As the discourse about the removal of monuments valourising white supremacist or colonial figures continues to evolve amid Black Lives Matter protests, US memorials to Christopher Columbus are at the centre of a curious debate between those who advocate for their destruction or removal and those calling for the monuments to be preserved.

Among the latter are some Italian-Americans who view Columbus as an emblem of Italian heritage in the US. On 13 August, the Italian-American Alliance and other activists held a conference in Chicago calling for cities nationwide to keep monuments to Columbus in public view for their historic and cultural value.