CPS board accused of breaking law by dumping Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day

The Chicago Board of Education broke the law by dropping Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day because there was no prior notice of the change, Italian American civic groups said Wednesday, demanding that the "insult" be rescinded.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans stopped short of threatening a lawsuit. The group would only declare last week's vote a violation of state law and the Open Meetings Act and vow to exhaust "every legal procedure possible" if Mayor Lori Lightfoot's hand-picked school board refuses to reverse its controversial decision.

"According to our attorneys, the Chicago Board of Education violated its own code and the Illinois State Board of Education code in how they passed this ... because there was no notice. It clearly states that in the state statute, and also by the rules of government meetings," said Lissa Druss, a committee spokesperson.

A Chicago Public Schools official flatly denied the law was broken.

"Proper notice was made in compliance with the Open Meetings Act and the vote was appropriately taken," said CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton.

Sergio Giangrande, president of the Italian American committee, said the decision to dump the "sacred" holiday of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day was an affront to Italian Americans who have "endured horrific discrimination and continue to be defamed in popular culture."

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