President Biden Proclaims Today is Both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day

Image "1492" by Bill Smith from Flickr.

Westwood officially marks this Monday, October 10, 2022 as Columbus Day. Nearby towns choose either the same name for the holiday, or have officially declared a name change to Indigenous Peoples' Day. In either case, the day is a time to remember a moment in history for our country. 

For some, it marks the moment when Columbus set foot upon these shores in the story of America's founding. For others, it marks a time to reject European atrocities inflicted on Native Americans upon Columbus's arrival in the New World, and to highlight the contributions of the Native community to our nation.

In 2021, President Biden kept with the tradition of his predecessors in issuing a proclamation in honor of Columbus Day. It was titled, "A Proclamation on Columbus Day, 2021." However, at the same time, he also did something new and different. He issued a second proclamation honoring the same day as Indigenous Peoples Day, in a document titled, "A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples' Day, 2021."

Now in 2022, for the second time, President Joe Biden again has issued two proclamations. He has chosen to specifically to honor Monday, October 10, 2022 as both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. 

President Biden notes in his Columbus Day proclamation that Italian-Americans, for whom the journey of Columbus is a source of pride, have faced a history of prejudice and violence in this country.  "In fact, Columbus Day was created by President Harrison in 1892 in response to the anti-Italian motivated lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans in 1891," states President Biden. In his commemoration of Columbus Day, he calls the Italian-American community the "cornerstone" of the relationship of the United States to Italy, a NATO Ally and European partner.

In the president's proclamation for Indigenous Peoples' Day this year, he touts his administration's investments in Tribal communities. He adds,  "But we have more to do to help lift Tribal communities from the shadow of our broken promises, to protect their right to vote, and to help them access other opportunities that their ancestors were long denied. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate indigenous history and our new beginning together, honoring Native Americans for shaping the contours of this country since time immemorial."

Learn something new every day with Westwood Minute. Subscribe!

You may also enjoy:

- Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day for You?

- Photo Gallery: St. Mark's Greek Fest

- Mass Cultural Council Recognized with National Award, Announces Available Grants to Individuals and Organizations

- OPINION: We Must Revive Productive Disagreements, the Genius of our Constitution and Democracy