Italian American leaders are pushing to bring the Christopher Columbus statues back to Chicago's parks. The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans spoke out on Saturday, after an advisory panel called for the city to permanently remove three Christopher Columbus statues and the Balbo Monument in Burnham Park, and consider altering or removing nearly 40 other monuments.

On Saturday, the Italian American group gathered in front of where statue stood in Arrigo Park, calling the panel's suggestions "ludicrous." "History is a treasure that cannot be buried," said Ron Ornesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. "Why not focus on the stories that need to be told. New plaques and new monuments."