Jun 16, 2016 - Cambridge MA Abolishes Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day

“I view changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a cleansing for me, as an Italian-America. I do not want Christopher Columbus to be representing my culture. I really view it … as making a day that I can actually be proud of.” ~Cambridge Vice Mayor Marc McGovern

On June 6th, 2016, the Cambridge Massachusetts City Council voted unanimously to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.

The resolution was sponsored by council member Nadeem Mazen and was pushed for by members of the areas Indigenous community.

Mazan stated that, “it is important to reclaim the day for Native Americans, thousands of whom were killed under Columbus’s leadership when he came to the New World.”

Cambridge joins an ever expanding list of cities, and states, that have passed resolutions to rename the second Monday in October, the Federal holiday Columbus Day, to Indigenous Peoples Day. They are the first major north eastern city to pass an Indigenous Peoples Day resolution.