Bronxites gathered in Morris Park on Sunday to celebrate Italian heritage and Columbus Day. Flags donning Italy’s green, red and white colors fluttered in the wind as groups marched in the parade to celebrate Italian-American culture in the Bronx.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson expressed her gratitude for the community via Twitter on Monday.
“Today we recognize the important contributions of Italian Americans made in our Borough and our City,” she wrote. “Happy Italian American Heritage Day to all New Yorkers who celebrate.”
The second Monday in October is recognized as a federal holiday every year by the U.S. government, and was established originally to celebrate Christopher Columbus — the Italian explorer who was widely regarded as the first European to find the Americas, according to the World History Encyclopedia. For many, it also became a day to celebrate Italian immigrants who faced discrimination in the U.S.
Today we recognize as Indigenous Peoples Day! Today we celebrate the important contributions made in our society by Native Americans. President Biden became the first President to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in the United States. pic.twitter.com/X7pJBVQIwX
— Hon. Vanessa L. Gibson, MPA (She, Her, Hers) (@Vanessalgibson) October 10, 2022
In recent years, however, some have taken issue with celebrating Columbus, stating that the explorer symbolizes colonization and oppression of Indigenous people. Because of this, many folks — including Gibson — elect to celebrate the unofficial Indigenous Peoples’ Day along with Italian American Heritage Day.
-Adrian Childress and Camille Botello contributed to this report
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