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Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day

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Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
HeadquartersMassachusetts, US
Cofounder
Heather Lavelle
Cofounder
Danielle DeLuca
Websiteitaliansforipd.org

Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day is a progressive Italian-American organization based in Massachusetts that supports replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

History

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Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day was founded in 2016 by Danielle DeLuca, Heather Lavelle, and three other Italian Americans. DeLuca opposes celebrating both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day, saying that it is inappropriate to celebrate "a perpetrator of genocide and victims of genocide on the same day".[1] Lavelle has stated that while she acknowledges the discrimination Italian Americans have historically faced, she believes that anti-Italian prejudice has greatly diminished to the point where "our culture is celebrated" by the American mainstream. Lavelle said that the Italian-American experience is "not unique" for immigrants to the United States.[2] Lavelle has called for Italian-American heritage to be celebrated on another day, saying that Italian-Americans "enjoy a level of status and recognition in society that native people do not and we should prioritize their feelings on this."[3]

In November, 2021, Boston Mayor Kim Janey signed an executive order recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated the city's recognition and called for the Massachusetts General Court to pass H.3191/S.2027, ‘An Act Establishing Indigenous Peoples Day’, which would recognize Indigenous Peoples Day statewide.[4]

On October 9, 2023, the organization attended an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.[5][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Columbus Day debate continues in Massachusetts". Boston Herald. October 9, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Support mounts for nixing Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day". Boston Herald. September 28, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Why Columbus Day continues to lose ground in the US". El País. October 12, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "MAYOR JANEY ESTABLISHES INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN BOSTON". Boston.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "MFA honors history and heritage for Indigenous Peoples' Day". The Suffolk Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Indigenous Peoples' Day". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
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