Chicago aldermen agreed Wednesday to designate October as “Italian American Heritage and Culture Month,” thanks to a resolution one civic leader said is sorely needed to begin a “healing” process. Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans, made no mention of the specific wounds he believes need to be healed.

But members of the City Council’s Committee on Special Events, chaired by Italian-American Ald. Nick Sposato (38th), were well aware of the hurts Italian-Americans say they have suffered in recent years and months.  Chicago Public Schools’ decision to designate Columbus Day as “Indigenous Peoples Day.” A failed proposal to rename Balbo Drive in honor of Ida B. Wells (Congress Parkway was eventually renamed for Wells). The midnight removal of two statues of Christopher Columbus.