Marching proud despite the weather
One hundred years ago, in 1909, Italian Americans were still a target of anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic sentiment that had raged throughout the United States since the mid-19th century. It was under these circumstances that the first Columbus Day parade was held in Colorado, two years after the state became the first to adopt it as an official holiday. The Italian American community embraced the day as a way to celebrate their heritage and contributions to U.S. American culture. After all, they claimed, it was an Italian who first "discovered" the Americas in 1492, setting into motion the trade routes and colonization that would eventually lead to the establishment of the United States in 1776.
In more recent years the celebration of that legacy has drawn intense criticism, as Native American activists and their supporters have drawn attention to the treatment of indigenous people by Columbus himself; and to the disease, war, genocide, enslavement and displacement inflicted on natives by later European settlers. The controversy has lead to many local governments discontinuing observation of the holiday and to organized protest against Columbus Day events. In 2007, confrontations between demonstrators and parade marchers in Denver lead to the arrest and detention of 83 anti-Columbus Day protesters. The controversy has dampened interest for the parade in the broader community, leading to lack of sponsorship by the business community and declining attendance.
This year the parade suffered two additional setbacks. Earlier in the week a press-release was e-mailed to news outlets falsely announcing the 2009 parade would be canceled. The cancellation was reported as news by the Associated Press and several local news outlets before they were contacted by frustrated parade organizers. In addition to the hoax, the day of the parade was marked by sub-freezing temperatures and an early-season snowstorm, virtually ensuring that only the most dedicated would come downtown to either support or oppose the event. The parade consisted of four sparsely-decorated floats, a few dozen marchers, a procession of cars waving Italian and American flags, and perhaps preparing for repeat of 2007, a phalanx of Denver Police cruisers. Despite the chill, the marchers kept good spirits; waving, smiling and shouting "Happy Columbus Day" to the few scattered onlookers on the sidelines of the parade route.
At the intersection of Colfax and Broadway around 15 protesters held signs, waved banners and heckled the passing parade. While they have nothing against Italian Americans, they said, the legacy of Columbus is one that lead to massive injustice that continues to this day. Hector, a Denver resident who held a "Death to Empire" sign, commented on the sparse turnout for this year's event, "But it's been pathetic for years. It's a racist holiday, regardless of whether there is a parade or not. Columbus coming to this part of the world really represents a genocide of the entire continent. Literally thousands of civilizations were forcibly removed-- that's why we're out here today." As the parade continued, the demonstrators beat a home-made Uncle Sam piñata and chanted "go away" to marchers. They were met with a wail of car horns as the parade procession attempted to drown out the interruption.
Though the vast majority of curb-space along the parade route remained empty, there were some spectators who braved the cold for what they believed was an important cause. Alex from Colorado Springs sported a green, red and white parka and explained what Columbus day means to him, "It's about Italian Heritage." Asked about the demonstrators across the street, he shook his head, "I think they're wasting their time, and I think they could find more positive ways to get their message across. I'm from Detroit originally, and there isn't a big protest there, so the first time I came I here was surprised to see it. I wish more people would come out to show their support."
Comments
Why don't the Italian Americans just drop the "Columbus" part and celebrate "Italian Heritage Day" instead? Everybody wins.
Why don't you drop the "Christ" part and celebrate "X-Mas" instead. Ignorant b*%$h.
Seriosly? I was totally Agreeing with your comment till the ignorant B *%$h part! She Made a Totally Good Point why Not instead of Italians Celebrating the Real Culture...Not After A Racist, Murder who has caused Genocide to Children of GOD!
The guy with the "Death to Empire" sign is not Hector. Hector is with RAIMD, the guy with the sign is not. Hector was wearing a red cap that day.
I am proud of my Italian heritage and Columbus. If the Indians don't like the parade they have the option to stay home. If they want to protest something, they can start with George Custer...hell he did a lot more damage than Columbus ever did in his lifetime.
To my fellow Italians...march on!
I'm an italian-american, and i don't get it. We have much more to be proud of than columbus. He was funded by spain and directly and indirectly led to incomprehensible suffering. Let's get over it and focus a little more on truly great italians.
Italian Heritage isn't just about Columbus. It involves being responsible for fostering the crusades, allowing the Catholic church to pillage, steal and murder, rolling over for the Nazis during WW2, and for bringing the Mob to America.
Discovering something that other people had already found is only one of the aspects of Italian Heritage.
Soupgoblin - You obviously have issues. Quit blaming the Catholic Church and the Italian mob for the woes of the world and spend some time in therapy.
COLUMBUS DAY IS FOR LOVERS
It's Columbus Day! The 37th holiest day of the year. The day we celebrate the much hallowed voyage of Christopher Columbus who sailed the ocean blue in 1492, to Discover America.
Screw Columbus! "Discovered" America? You can't wander into someone's backyard and start discovering stuff. I remember as a child, I tried to "discover" some apples from the tree in Mrs. Johnson's back yard. After Mrs. Johson told my mom, I discovered an ass-beating that American historians still talk about to this day. They should put that on a calendar!
Soupgoblin - You obviously have issues. Quit blaming the Catholic Church and the Italian mob for the woes of the world and spend some time in therapy.
@ correction:
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. I've made a correction to the caption on the photo.
I thought Colorado stopped recognizing Columbus Day 5-10 years ago? Well I guess that doesn't stop people from having a parade. Don't forget, since Denver doesn't recognize this as a holiday, parking meters AREN'T free today!
everybody stop bitching please.. columbus was an giant historical figure... sure its a weird day to celebrate, but c'mon.. that ish happened a long time ago, and it made the country you live in. just shut up about it and direct that much needed energy elsewhere. yeah, yeah civilizations where destroyed, but isn't that the history of the world? we won, maybe cheated a little bit, but we won and we should be proud of our heritage.
This article is generally better than most on this subject, but you should consider that the reason Italian immigrants in 1909 embraced Columbus has little if anything to do with patriotism, and immigrants made up a clear majority of Italians in the U.S. at the time. Though you're correct about the civil rights aspirations they had, for obvious reasons, and that is really what opened the door to Columbus Day. The proponents of the holiday today are not even remotely the same group of people, though there may be some generational lineage. The views of the people supporting this holiday were very different in 1909 than they are today. However, before 1909 Columbus was an icon used as part of a cohesion of myths and symbols that played a much larger role in whipping settlers into a hate frenzy against indigenous people. Consider the timing of the Columbian World's fair, the layout of the fair, and the Wounded Knee massacre, circa 1890s - & no natives were protesting the parade this year.
For the record, Colorado A.I.M. issued an advisory to all indigenous people that could be reached with this information to stay out of Downtown Denver during the Columbus Day parade on Saturday. It appeared a couple days in advance on their blog. The 15 people you saw protesting the parade this year, 2009, was Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement (RAIM). They are not indigenous people, they do not act in solidarity or in concert with native activists of any kind, although they seem to believe they do. Most of them are European American by heritage, some are even from wealthy families, and they protest all kinds of things. The sign you quoted, "Death to Empire," is the same sign that guy brings to every protest, whether for immigrant rights, against the war in Afghanistan, whatever; he always has that same sign, and it is always the same guy. The back of the sign reads "they only call it class war when we fight back." Colorado A.I.M. never invited them, they just show up to meetings.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!