An Italian American group in Chicago blasted as "insensitive" a proposal to change the name of Columbus Drive to Barack Obama Drive.
The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) released a statement Thursday saying the proposal by a Black alderman is "offensive to the over 500,000 Americans of Italian descent in and around Chicago."
Alderman Lamont Robinson on Wednesday introduced the ordinance, which would rename the downtown Chicago street after former President Barack Obama.
"We need to honor more Black men, and this is one small way we can do that. Chicago's children deserve to see that they too can become Black history & cement a new tourist destination to increase Chicago tourism highlighting where Black history was made," Robinson said in a post to X.
The JCCIA agrees — but not at the expense of another ethnic group.
"The key here is why must there be an effort to cease the existence of Columbus Drive, rather than finding a way to add the honor for President Obama," JCCIA President Ron Onesti said in a statement. "If those wishing to honor president Obama truly wish to do so, we'll be there to honor a great president, but not at a cost affecting one particular ethnic group."
Onesti agreed with the intent of Robinson to honor "a most worthy historic, hometown figure."
However, he added, "It would be more relevant to rename a portion of South Greenwood Avenue where the Obama residence is, or Stony Island Avenue where the Barack Obama Presidential Library sits."
The Chicago Sun-Times said Columbus Drive was so named in 1933, originally called Inner Drive.
It's yet another attack on Christopher Columbus, the 15th century explorer from Italy.
The JCCIA is still fighting to reinstall two Columbus statues that were removed from Arrigo and Grant parks in 2020 after activists tried to remove them, according to the Sun-Times.
Further, many cities and states now celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday of each October. According to Pew Research Center, only 16 states and territories still observe Columbus Day.