The GOP bill would penalize cities that replace Columbus Day celebrations

A new House GOP proposal would withhold funding from US jurisdictions that celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. Columbus Day.

He comes after the president Donald Trump I signed a proclamation last week declaring October 13 as Columbus Day in honor of the famous explorer as well as the heritage of Italian Americans throughout the United States.

“This is about every son and daughter of Italy, every Knights of Columbus, every Sunday spaghetti dinner, every company — everything that makes our culture what we are, from Philadelphia to San Francisco,” Ohio Republican Rep. Michael Rowley told Fox News Digital in an interview.

“Every Little Italy neighborhood in this country celebrates Christopher Columbus. It’s so much more than just the man. It’s the people.”

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Rowley’s new bill would reaffirm Columbus Day as a federal holiday and penalize cities and states that replace its observance with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

He added: “We will not allow any American municipality to believe that it has authority over the federal government.”

In 2021, then-President Joe Biden Officially recognized The second Monday in October is observed as Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The move was praised by progressive activists and historians, who saw Christopher Columbus as a harbinger of genocide against the Earth’s indigenous people, millions of whom were killed amid American colonization.

But Rowley argued that Columbus Day was about honoring the heritage of Italian Americans, noting that part of the impetus for its establishment in 1892 was the lynching of 11 Italian Americans in 1892. New Orleans After the death of the local police chief.

He added that his legislation was not intended to diminish the importance of Native Americans, who he said deserve their own day of importance.

“I mean, Native Americans are some of the most amazing, dynamic cultural people that make up the fabric of America. But they need their own day,” Rowley said. “And I would be willing to do that. I’m saying now, I would be willing to give the indigenous people their special day, but not this day.”

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He also accused the Biden administration of undermining the legacy of both peoples by declaring the two holidays on the same day, while praising Trump for restoring the original meaning of Columbus Day.

“I don’t care what party you’re in…if you come from Italian-American descent, you love what President Trump did. He’s been a wonderful olive branch to all Italian Americans,” Rulli said.

He added: “In no way, in any way, is this bill intended to offend any indigenous people. They deserve their own day. We will give them their own day, but not Columbus Day. This has already been woven into our fabric for 130 years.”