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Columbus Day Protests Are Not New: A Short History of Dissent Why People Have Protested Columbus Day Almost From Its Start
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A reverend at Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan appeared on the front page of The New York Times after he criticized Christopher Columbus, the Italian navigator who sailed to the Americas on behalf of Spain in 1492.A reverend at Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan appeared on the front page of The New York Times after he criticized Christopher Columbus, the Italian navigator who sailed to the Americas on behalf of Spain in 1492.
The reverend, R. S. MacArthur, said Columbus was “cruel, and guilty of many crimes.”The reverend, R. S. MacArthur, said Columbus was “cruel, and guilty of many crimes.”
That complaint may sound familiar to those who condemn the explorer for opening a door to European colonialism, which brought disease, destruction and catastrophic wars to the people who already lived here.That complaint may sound familiar to those who condemn the explorer for opening a door to European colonialism, which brought disease, destruction and catastrophic wars to the people who already lived here.
But Mr. MacArthur said those words more than a century ago, in 1893. His comments suggested he was more affronted by Spain, which he called “the poorest and most ignorant country in Europe,” than concerned about Native Americans.But Mr. MacArthur said those words more than a century ago, in 1893. His comments suggested he was more affronted by Spain, which he called “the poorest and most ignorant country in Europe,” than concerned about Native Americans.
He was one of many to have questioned the legacy of the explorer, whose arrival in the Americas has been celebrated in the United States for hundreds of years.He was one of many to have questioned the legacy of the explorer, whose arrival in the Americas has been celebrated in the United States for hundreds of years.
Americans commemorated Columbus’s first landing in the Caribbean at least as early as 1792, when members of the Tammany Society of New York and, separately, the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, gathered to mark the 300th anniversary of the day the Spanish ships made landfall.Americans commemorated Columbus’s first landing in the Caribbean at least as early as 1792, when members of the Tammany Society of New York and, separately, the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, gathered to mark the 300th anniversary of the day the Spanish ships made landfall.
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison said the entire country should observe “Discovery Day” to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing. It was formally designated as a recurring national holiday on Oct. 1, 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that Oct. 12 would be a day to display the American flag and engage in “appropriate ceremonies in schools and churches” every year. (It was later changed to the second Monday of October.)In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison said the entire country should observe “Discovery Day” to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing. It was formally designated as a recurring national holiday on Oct. 1, 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that Oct. 12 would be a day to display the American flag and engage in “appropriate ceremonies in schools and churches” every year. (It was later changed to the second Monday of October.)
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the holiday was often considered a celebration for Italian-Americans and Catholics. Churches and organizations such as the Knights of Columbus sometimes used Columbus Day gatherings to publicly condemn discrimination against Catholics.During the 19th and 20th centuries, the holiday was often considered a celebration for Italian-Americans and Catholics. Churches and organizations such as the Knights of Columbus sometimes used Columbus Day gatherings to publicly condemn discrimination against Catholics.
But Columbus’s role as an Italian representative would be complicated by World War II and the rise of Benito Mussolini.But Columbus’s role as an Italian representative would be complicated by World War II and the rise of Benito Mussolini.
In 1936, four years before Mussolini, the Italian dictator, formally declared war to fight alongside Adolf Hitler, rumors swirled that fascist sympathizers were helping to organize the Columbus Day celebrations in New York City.In 1936, four years before Mussolini, the Italian dictator, formally declared war to fight alongside Adolf Hitler, rumors swirled that fascist sympathizers were helping to organize the Columbus Day celebrations in New York City.
In 1938, when thousands gathered at Central Park for the Columbus Day festivities, some shouted “Viva Mussolini” while listening to speeches. “The gathering was definitely sympathetic toward the Fascist regime in Italy,” The Times reported.In 1938, when thousands gathered at Central Park for the Columbus Day festivities, some shouted “Viva Mussolini” while listening to speeches. “The gathering was definitely sympathetic toward the Fascist regime in Italy,” The Times reported.
And in 1943, about a month after Italy surrendered to the Allies, The Times reported that Columbus Day celebrations in recent years had been “increasingly embarrassing.”And in 1943, about a month after Italy surrendered to the Allies, The Times reported that Columbus Day celebrations in recent years had been “increasingly embarrassing.”
“All of us wanted to pay tribute to the discoverer and through him to other great Italians and to the many notable Italian achievements, but most of us drew the line at celebrating Benito Mussolini, or his friends, or his regime,” it reported.“All of us wanted to pay tribute to the discoverer and through him to other great Italians and to the many notable Italian achievements, but most of us drew the line at celebrating Benito Mussolini, or his friends, or his regime,” it reported.
Still, the celebration continued annually. And during the first Columbus Day parade after World War II, “the plight of Italy was dramatized” and marchers made appeals for aid to help the country recover.Still, the celebration continued annually. And during the first Columbus Day parade after World War II, “the plight of Italy was dramatized” and marchers made appeals for aid to help the country recover.
In the decades since, Columbus came to be seen less as an explorer representing Italians and more as a European colonizer whose journeys led to the decimation of American indigenous populations.In the decades since, Columbus came to be seen less as an explorer representing Italians and more as a European colonizer whose journeys led to the decimation of American indigenous populations.
Those ideas picked up steam during the early 1990s, when criticism about the explorer’s legacy became increasingly visible in cities including Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and Berkeley, Calif., amplifying many Native Americans’ longstanding complaints about the holiday.Those ideas picked up steam during the early 1990s, when criticism about the explorer’s legacy became increasingly visible in cities including Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and Berkeley, Calif., amplifying many Native Americans’ longstanding complaints about the holiday.
“We were here first,” Ray Geer, a Paucatuck Eastern Pequot and president of the Connecticut River Powwow Society, said to The Times in 1991. “We find the notion that Columbus discovered us extremely distasteful.”“We were here first,” Ray Geer, a Paucatuck Eastern Pequot and president of the Connecticut River Powwow Society, said to The Times in 1991. “We find the notion that Columbus discovered us extremely distasteful.”
The push is continuing. Last week, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles County decided to recognize Indigenous People’s Day on the second Monday of every October.The push is continuing. Last week, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles County decided to recognize Indigenous People’s Day on the second Monday of every October.
In New York City, officials have entertained ideas about taking down the iconic statue at Columbus Circle, eliciting some backlash from Italian-American groups. Another statue of Columbus in Central Park was vandalized with red paint and graffiti last month.In New York City, officials have entertained ideas about taking down the iconic statue at Columbus Circle, eliciting some backlash from Italian-American groups. Another statue of Columbus in Central Park was vandalized with red paint and graffiti last month.
Opposition to Columbus Day festivities has come in more prosaic forms, too.Opposition to Columbus Day festivities has come in more prosaic forms, too.
In 1911, the real estate association representative Abraham Korn urged New York City officials not to spend $50,000 on the celebration. “We’ve done enough for Christopher Columbus by making a holiday,” he said. “No money should be spent in this way for fireworks.”In 1911, the real estate association representative Abraham Korn urged New York City officials not to spend $50,000 on the celebration. “We’ve done enough for Christopher Columbus by making a holiday,” he said. “No money should be spent in this way for fireworks.”
In 1949, the Fifth Avenue Association beseeched Mayor William O’Dwyer of New York to reroute the parade so as not to disrupt shoppers in Midtown Manhattan. “The association held that the disruption of traffic caused severe inconvenience to the general public, shoppers and property owners and thereby resulted in a serious loss of business.”In 1949, the Fifth Avenue Association beseeched Mayor William O’Dwyer of New York to reroute the parade so as not to disrupt shoppers in Midtown Manhattan. “The association held that the disruption of traffic caused severe inconvenience to the general public, shoppers and property owners and thereby resulted in a serious loss of business.”
And 15 years ago, there was a Columbus Day dust-up after Italian-American groups learned that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wanted to march with actors from the hit television show “The Sopranos.”And 15 years ago, there was a Columbus Day dust-up after Italian-American groups learned that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wanted to march with actors from the hit television show “The Sopranos.”
They were not happy, and the Times columnist Clyde Haberman wrote on Oct. 22, 2002, that there was indignation and offense on all sides, including that of the mayor, who “deemed himself the injured party and skipped the parade, heading instead to the Bronx for linguine marinara.”They were not happy, and the Times columnist Clyde Haberman wrote on Oct. 22, 2002, that there was indignation and offense on all sides, including that of the mayor, who “deemed himself the injured party and skipped the parade, heading instead to the Bronx for linguine marinara.”