It's about time! This should have been done a long time ago! Now the rest of the US needs to follow!
Minneapolis changes Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day
Minneapolis City Council | | Categories: Minneapolis City Council, Racism | blogs.citypages.com
-- Update at bottom with statement from Mayor Betsy Hodges -- Columbus Day is no more in Minneapolis. This morning, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution that renames Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day on all official city communications. See also: Judgmental Mpls map creator speaks out: "The whole thing is satirical". Minneapolis is the first city in the state to scrap Columbus Day. As we reported in February, the city of Red Wing's Human Rights Commission drafted a resolution to rename the holiday as First Peoples Day, but it hasn't yet been approved by the City Council there. Unlike the Red Wing resolution, the one approved today by the Minneapolis City Council doesn't trash Christopher Columbus.
Instead, it recognizes "the annexation of Dakota homelands for the building of our city" and says, "Indigenous Peoples Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people on this land, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that Dakota, Ojibwe, and other Indigenous nations add to our city." Here's the full resolution: Mpls Indigenous Peoples Day. City Council's effort was led by first-term Council Member Alondra Cano, who didn't respond to two voicemails and an email seeking comment.
:::: UPDATE ::::
Kate Brickman, spokesperson for Mayor Betsy Hodges, sent us this statement on the mayor's behalf: This act recognizes and celebrates the native people who still live on this land. I am honored to have signed the resolution this morning, as I promised I would during my campaign, recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day and honoring the history, culture, and resiliency of the people who originally inhabited our country and our city. I am grateful to the community for organizing to make this a reality and am looking forward to the even stronger relationships we will build moving forward. h/t -- Eric Roper -- Follow Aaron Rupar on Twitter at @atrupar. Got a tip? Drop him a line at arupar@citypages.com.
Yeah…Only in Minnesota. All cities, and town in Minnesota and everywhere in the states should no longer celebrate Columbus Day…why only in Minneapolis? It’s a start.
Yes, it’s a start.