Chicago Public Schools are closed in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, but the rest of the city, county and state still officially mark the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. And as some Italians in the Chicago area celebrate with a parade downtown, Indigenous communities and progressive Italians say it’s time to move past Christopher Columbus as a figurehead and find new ways to honor Italian heritage.
Commemorating Columbus “speaks to how Indigenous history continues to be questioned as if it may be something that’s debatable,” said Arlene Duncan, interim executive director of the American Indian Center in Albany Park.
