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The Buffalo Bills fired off a post on social media on Monday to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day and the decision drew some pushback among fans.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is seen by activists as a counter-celebration against Columbus Day. It was established to highlight the suffering Native tribes in North America under European colonization.
Columbus Day celebrates Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492.
Buffalo, New York, itself celebrates both days. The Bills only sent a post about Indigenous Peoples’ Day and noted that it was Thanksgiving in Canada.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last week to honor Columbus.
“Today we have your Columbus Day proclamation for Monday, which we’re signing a bit early,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf told Trump Thursday ahead of the monthly Cabinet meeting.
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“Columbus, obviously, discovered the New World in 1492. He was a great Italian explorer. He sailed his three ships, the Nina, the Pinto and Santa Maria, across the Atlantic Ocean, and landed in what’s today the Caribbean. And this is a particularly important holiday for Italian Americans who celebrate the legacy of Christopher Columbus, and the innovation and explorer zeal that he represented,” he continued.
Applause was heard breaking out in the room as Trump added: “In other words, we’re calling it Columbus Day.”
Trump continued in his remarks Thursday saying, “We’re back, Italians,” as applause continued.
“That was the press that broke out in applause,” Trump quipped of the warm reception to the proclamation. “I’ve never seen that happen. The press actually broke out in applause. Good. Columbus Day. We’re back. Columbus Day. We’re back, Italians. We love the Italians.”
Columbus Day was recognized as a federal holiday since 1971. In recent years, activists have attempted to get government officials to disassociate from Columbus. They say it celebrates colonialism and genocide of indigenous people — in favor of celebrating Native Americans. Activists also have worked to remove Columbus statues from cities, including toppling such statues during the riots of 2020.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
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