Columbus Day arrives, and still no Columbus statues

Hundreds of protesters surround the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park on July 17, 2020. The statue was removed days later, along with another in Arrigo Park. (Provided)

Columbus Day came and went without the return of statues that Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered removed from Grant and Arrigo parks two years ago — but at least the two sides are finally talking.

Two months ago, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans demanded that statues of Christopher Columbus be returned to Grant and Arrigo parks by Columbus Day and protected at city expense.