HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-22 Public Comment - K. Klewin - Ordinance 2109From:Kurt Klewin
To:Agenda
Subject:Ordinance 2109
Date:Monday, June 27, 2022 7:58:38 PM
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Commissioners,
In reference to Ordinance 2109, I move to table the ordinance as written, take additional
public input and vote on the public's suggestions. Personally, as you probably know,Columbus Day was first celebrated in 1892 as a proclamation by President
Benjamin Harrison.
What many don't know is that in 1891, in New Orleans, several Italian immigrants wereaccused of killing a local Police Chief, tried, and acquitted on the charges. The local
populace, hostile at that time (1880 to 1920 when Italians suffered injustice, discrimination,bigotry and violance) to Italians proceeded to lynch 11 Italian Americans in what became the
largest mass lynching in American. The lynchings made national news and the news spread toItaly where their government broke off relations with the US. The next year, in an attempt to
repair relations with Italy, President Harrision made a political decision to honor Italians bycelebrating the most famous Italian at the time, Christoper Columbus, by proclaiming
Columbus Day to be celebrated in 1892. This holiday became a formal federal holiday in1934. Although Harrison could have picked a less controversial Italian (as we now know) to
honor to help repair relations with Rome and at home stop the injustices towards Italians,nonetheless, it happened and the intent was to honor the Italian American population.
No question Indigenous Peoples Day should be celebrated to also recognize and honor the
horrific treatment of Native Americans in the late 1800s and to reflect on that history.
Changes to Columbus Day have been debated in many communities and in my research it hasyielded 4 possible outcomes.
1. Keep it Columbus Day
2. Change it to Indigenous Peoples Day3. Change it to Italian Heritage Day, Indigenous Peoples Day becomes a seperate holiday, the
Friday after Thanksgiving.4. Columbus Day becomes a hybrid (like New York City Schools Celebrate) as Italian
Heritage Day / Indigenous Peoples Day.
Personally I think we should celebrate both. Indigenous Peoples Day as a City Holiday on theFriday after Thanksgiving and Columbus Day be changed to Italian Heritage Day.
Many communities have utilized all of the above 4 solutions. I hope we can weigh the inputs
by the public and find some common ground to this debate. I grew up, for a time, in Italy andhave Italian friends that are very aware of the real meaning of Columbus Day. Lets not take
from one oppressed minority population and replace their day with another oppressed minoritypopulation when a solution exists to honor both.
Thanks for your time. I will be interested in hearing the other inputs of community members.
Thanks so much!
Regards,
Kurt KlewinBozeman