More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, the long-celebrated Chicago holiday in his honor could be headed to dry dock. Efforts to eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day are in the works. Those favoring this change cite historians who have uncovered egregious acts of violence against native populations in the wake of Columbus’s coming to North America. Those opposing it note Columbus may represent a complicated history but feel his explorations deserve continued recognition.

Ald. Rossana Rodriquez-Sanchez (33rd Ward), a native of Puerto Rico, introduced an ordinance to rename the holiday in June with assistance from Anthony Tamaz-Pochel, her neighborhood services coordinator, who is of Native and African American heritage. Co-sponsor is Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward).