Bill that renames holiday is o≠ered

Columbus Day, a state holiday in Colorado, could soon be history. State Rep. Joe Salazar, a Democrat from Thornton, is offering legislation to change the name of the holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

In October, Denver became the ninth city to make Oct. 12, the day explorer Christopher Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, instead.

Salazar said recognizing Columbus Day glosses over a tragic chapter of human history.

“The atrocities that Columbus engaged in against indigenous peoples was followed up by European nations’ heinous conquest of the Americas,” he said.

“That kind of ruthlessness, genocide and inhumanity leaves a mark on the world, even to this day. Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a small part in restoring just a little bit of our humanity and honoring people who still exist today despite all attempts to wipe them off the planet.”

Salazar annually carries civil rights legislation, including failed bills last year to ban offensive American Indian mascots and outlaw urban camping bans that impede homeless people.

Efforts to reach representatives of the Denver Columbus Day Parade Committee and the Colorado Italian American Organization were unsuccessful.

Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since 1934. Colorado was the first to make Columbus Day a state holiday in 1907.

Under Salazar’s bill, Indigenous Peoples’ Day would be a state holiday — and a day off work for state employees.

“The state of Colorado recognizes the immeasurable contributions of the Italian-American and Spanish-American communities, which communities should be honored,” the bill states. “However, the state of Colorado will not honor Christopher Columbus because of his well-documented crimes against humanity.”

The divide over Columbus Day has roiled Denver for decades, including major protests in the late 1980s and early 1990s that pitted proud Italians against American Indian Movement activists.

In 1989, Russell Means, the late actor and AIM activist, and three other protestors were arrested for throwing fake blood on a statue of Columbus in Civic Center park.

In 1992, the parade was canceled moments before it was set to begin because of threats of violence from both sides. The city did not have another Columbus Day Parade until 2000, when 147 protesters were arrested for blocking the parade route .

Richard Iannacito, who was named Denver’s Italian of the Year for last October’s parade, said both sides should try to get along.

“Columbus discovered America. That’s in the history books, and we learn it as schoolchildren,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “Columbus Day is on the calendar. I think it’s ridiculous to try to erase history.

“I don’t see why we can’t have (Indigenous Peoples’ Day) and still have Columbus Day.”