Lori Lightfoot is one of the most polarizing mayors in the entire country. She is unapologetic in her approach to combating gang violence in the city of Chicago and in the past she has displayed a staunch willingness to clap back at her political foes like Donald Trump, publically. The 59-year-old has also received a significant amount of praise for overcoming prejudiced viewpoints aimed against her as an African American woman and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Now, it appears as though she is the one being accused of discrimination.
According to reports, a group of Italian Americans has filed a lawsuit against the 56th mayor of Chicago for removing a statue of Christopher Columbus from the city's "Little Italy" location back in 2020. The Italian American led group is accusing Lori Lightfoot of disrupting a contractual agreement that promised the statute would remain on full display.
In response to the removal of the controversial statue, the president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, issued a statement.
"We as Chicagoans feel the process has not been respected," said Ron Onesti. "Our city's art, our city's historic elements, should not be at a whim if some vocal minority says so."
Mayor Lori Lightfoot removed the Christopher Columbus statue as a response to the new wave of BLM protest that occurred due to the murder of George Floyd at the hands of an on-duty police officer in 2020. Aftward, she expressed that her actions were a part of her desire to be an asset in her city's quest to usher in a new era of racial healing and historical reckoning.
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Source: MSN