CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The head of the Chicago Monuments Project, formed to consider the future of dozens of Chicago monuments and statues in Chicago, said of the people who have participated in the conversation so far, many don’t want to see monuments or statues removed.
Erin Harkey, the first deputy commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, said more 30,000 people have visited the Chicago Monuments Projects website; and there have been 2,000 public comments and more than 400 people have participated in drop-in sessions.
"A lot of folks remarked that removing monuments is attempting to erase history. And people also remarked that people aren't perfect, so the expectation that the figures we memorialize in these monuments have to reach some unattainable bar in terms of their level of perfection is impossible to reach," Harkey said.
Anthony Onesto took part in the public portion.
"The vast majority of the people who responded and participated did not want to take down any of the works of art," he said.
John Vinci is an architect who’s on the panel.
"Let's accept the past, and if you want to change the dialogue of these sculptures that is a good idea, but to try to erase them is, I think, a vicious act," Vinci said.
Currently, 41 statues and monuments are under review.
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