New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams headlined Monday’s annual Columbus Day parade — even as the city’s leader posted messages supporting both sides in the debate over what to honor on the holiday become
The 79th parade is a chance to celebrate Italian-American heritage and the legendary explorer with lots of bands, Maseratis and revelry on display along Fifth Avenue.
However, some have pushed to ditch Columbus Day for Native People’s Day because of the legendary explorer’s treatment of natives when he arrived in the West.
Adams seemed to play both sides in social media messages.
‘The story of Italian immigrants is New York’s story. Our Italian-American community has contributed so much, from art and culture to the determined working-class spirit that built our city,’ he said in a short video posted online.
Moments earlier, the mayor posted a separate video saying: ‘#IndigenousPeoplesDay is a call for us to repair our broken history and embrace our Indigenous and Native brothers and sisters on whose ancestral land we live.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was seen marching through the streets waving the Italian flag and waving to people
Governor Kathy Hochul marched atop a float waving a flag as she spoke to the crowd
Floats and Maseratis lined the streets while members of the Italian American community stayed outside for hours on end
Adams did not speak at the parade, nor did Gov. Kathy Hochul. But both were present.
Hochul stood tall on a float and marched while waving a flag around.
Each year, thousands of people gather to celebrate Italian-American heritage, dressed in red, white and green, waving Italian flags as they march through the streets.
The parade started on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continued north to 72nd Street after a mass was held at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Floats and Maseratis lined the streets while members of the Italian-American community stayed outside for hours on end.
“Italian Americans did so much to build New York City and I think we all definitely benefit from the Italian culture, whether we’re aware of it or not, between art, food, music, everything else,” Beth says. Paretta, CEO or not. Paretta Motorsport.
Lenny Mancuso of Long Island tells CBS New York: ‘What people don’t realize is that Italians have had an influence in the development and growth of the United States since colonial times. We helped write the Declaration of Independence, in every area you can think of.’
Columbus Day is meant to highlight Italian Christopher Columbus’ journey to the discovery of the West. But in recent years there has been a push to diminish his place in history and remove the holiday named after him because of the treatment of indigenous people.
“As an Italian-American, Columbus Day will always hold a special place in my heart and no amount of woke madness will take that away,” read a statement from the Italian Caucus of New York and NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino.
“I will continue to celebrate Columbus Day with pride and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Italian Caucus to oppose the erasure of Italian History in America.”
Indigenous People’s Day has existed since 1977 when it was first held at a United Nations conference, and for the past three years it has shared the same day with Columbus Day following a 2021 federal proclamation from President Joe Biden.
Many communities now celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, or both holidays, on the same day. Pictured: People gathered for the 202 Indigenous Peoples celebration in New York City
In response to the findings of what the Italian explorer did on his journey, his federal holiday has been questioned for the past quarter century due to his mistreatment of indigenous people. Pictured: A man defacing a Columbus statue in Miami
Adams came out for this parade after not showing up to the pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on Sunday
Columbus was born in Geno, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. The Italian explorer is idolized by many because he represented their heritage every year on the second Monday in October.
Spanish rulers, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand approved and funded his trip, but what they did not authorize were the native people he kidnapped and enslaved.
“His first voyage was hurried, he told the monarchs, but on his next voyage he was sure he could collect ‘slaves in any number they may order,'” Columbus allegedly said, according to a new opinion from the The of Boston Globe Jeff Jacoby.
In a 1975 American Heritage essay, Edward T. Stone wrote that ‘Columbus captured a large number of native men, women and children and sent them back as cargo in 12 ships to be sold in the slave market at Seville. ‘
At least 14 states and 130 US cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Columbus, Ohio, named for the explorer, even changed the holiday to recognize indigenous people.
Massachusetts has become a hotbed for the Columbus Day vs. Indigenous People’s Day debate.
Native American activists and supporters are taking the day and making it their own, as more than 300 cities and towns across Massachusetts alone aim to honor their community.
But the state government is yet to make the switch. According to The Boston Herald, a bill is pending to make the change to Native People’s Day.
“This bill basically disregards the contributions of the Italian American people,” said state Rep. Jeffrey Turco, D-19th Suffolk.
Danielle DeLuca co-founded Italian Americans for Indigenous People’s Day and since 2016 has led efforts to abandon Columbus Day and instead use it to celebrate other Italian Americans.
‘We believe that Indigenous Peoples Day should be its own holiday. It should not stand next to Columbus Day. It should not stand next to Italian Heritage Day.
“We cannot celebrate Italian Americans on a day that honors Columbus. You just can’t celebrate a perpetrator of genocide and victims of genocide on the same day,” DeLuca said.