Today’s Action: Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day

Today is Columbus Day, a federal holiday commemorating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492. It also marks the launch of European colonization and genocide of the indigenous population in the Americas.

Federal workers across the country, plus residents of 21 states, have a paid day off for Columbus Day. In other states, the holiday is recognized at the leisure of cities and employers. We’re in full support of a paid day off! But a progressive movement has been slowly building to do away with Columbus Day entirely, and replace it with a recognition of the people most hurt by this anniversary.

Call or email your State Reps and tell them to rename Columbus Day “Indigenous Peoples Day.” Tell them to join the states and cities that have already made this step toward proper recognition of our destructive past.

Already in a state that’s made this move? Call your Members of Congress – because we’ll tackle the federal holiday next!

The native communities in our country have faced nearly five and a half centuries of brutal oppression, land-theft, and erasure, and our country has a long road ahead toward recognizing and repairing the damage we have inflicted.

A holiday doesn’t singularly solve our past – it doesn’t come close. But adjusting our white-washed historical narrative of early European settlement and engagement with the indigenous community, and setting aside a day a year to give visibility to the native tribes whose land we reside on, is one step in the right direction.

Email or call your State Representatives and urge them to join the many states and cities who have already done away with Columbus Day, and replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day. If you live in a state that’s already made this choice, email or call (202.224.3121) your Members of Congress to change it at the federal level.