Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is planning to remove a statue of George Washington from the hallway outside his office at City Hall

According to recent reports, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to remove a statue of George Washington from the hallway outside his office at City Hall. The decision is part of an effort to “freshen up the space” and make it more contemporary. Mayor Johnson’s Communications Director, Ronnie Reese, stated that the removal is unrelated to Washington’s ownership of slaves, but rather a part of the city’s ongoing efforts to update and reimagine public spaces.

There are no immediate plans for the statue’s relocation or replacement, although Mayor Johnson has expressed interest in considering statues of other Chicago icons, such as Ida B. Wells, DuSable, and Harold Washington, in the future.

It’s worth noting that this decision follows a previous review of Chicago’s monuments and statues by the Chicago Monuments Project, which identified 41 statues deemed problematic, including two statues of George Washington. However, the targeted list did not include the specific statue in City Hall.

The removal of the statue is expected to be a symbolic step towards reevaluating and recontextualizing public monuments in Chicago, reflecting the city’s commitment to inclusivity and representation. 17GEN4.com