Challenging Columbus Day: Denver Organizers Discuss Why They Protest the Holiday

by Democracy Now (reposted)

Fri, Oct 6, 2006 6:57AM

Monday is known as Columbus Day, which is supposed to commemorate the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the so-called "new world" in 1492. But the holiday has long caused anger amongst people of color, especially Native Americans, who object to honoring a man who opened the door to European colonization, the exploitation of native peoples and the slave trade. We talk to Glenn Morris of the American Indian Movement of Colorado and Glenn Spagnuolo of Progressive Italians Transforming the Columbus Day Holiday.

The first state commemoration of Columbus Day was in Colorado and when our "Breaking the Sound Barrier" tour visited the state earlier this month - I sat down with two activists who were working to transform the holiday. Glenn Morris is a member of the Leadership Council of the American Indian Movement of Colorado, an Attorney and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Colorado at Denver. Glenn Spagnuolo is a member of Transform Columbus Day Alliance and the Director of PITCH - Progressive Italians Transforming the Columbus Day Holiday.

* Glenn Morris, member of the Leadership Council of the American Indian Movement of Colorado. Attorney and Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Colorado at Denver.
* Glenn Spagnuolo, member of Transform Columbus Day Alliance and director of PITCH - Progressive Italians Transforming the Columbus Day Holiday.

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/06/1350258

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