A now-removed statue of former U.S. Sen. Stephen Douglas sits outside the Illinois Capitol. The statue was removed in September 2020. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

This month marks two years since former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) suggested artwork depicting Illinois’ former controversial U.S. Sen. Stephen Douglas be removed from the Illinois Capitol as the nation wrestled with the civil unrest following the police killing of George Floyd.

A House task force created by House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) in April 2021 is continuing to mull its options for new statues at the capitol and a process for reviewing the complex’s artwork.