In Colorado, several people with nothing else better to do, including many Native Americans, protested a Columbus Day parade in Denver sponsored by Italian Americans. Columbus, though he sailed from Spain, was an Italian. Here is the AP story:DENVER (AP) — Protesters blocked the city's Columbus Day parade route Saturday, pouring a bucket filled with fake blood and dismembered baby dolls onto the street as police arrested 83 people.
At least 10 people face charges of resisting arrest, but most are accused of blocking a parade route or interfering with peaceful assembly, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. No serious injuries were reported.
Denver's parade, which was started in 1907, has a history of arrests and confrontations between supporters and detractors of Christopher Columbus.
Protesters have called him a slave trader who touched off centuries of genocide and oppression against native peoples. Supporters say that he was a brave explorer who opened a new world and that the parade is an American holiday to be celebrated.
Colorado in 1905 became the first state to officially observe Columbus Day, which later became a federal holiday. Columbus Day is being federally observed on Monday.
The parade through downtown Denver was delayed about an hour. The protest and delay were anticipated and caused minimal disruption, said George Vendegnia, a parade organizer.
"With this protest, it's just motivating people more to be back next year and exercise their right to participate in an American holiday," Vendegnia said.
Look, you can debate Columbus as hero or devil all you want. Watching the FoxNews coverage, and hearing some crazy Native American protestor say how this parade and Columbus was "terrorizing our children" I had to laugh. And throwing fake blood and baby parts in front of children marching in a parade is A-OK? Cursing and yelling and holding up hateful signs as little girls riding in floats drive by is not harmful? And why is it terrorizing? Could it be you are telling boogey man tales?
What I love is the baiters who come in and rouse this up. You know, if you didn't protest and create a scene, no one would notice...but when you continue to do this, it keeps many people fired up to oppose such vehement venom. Look, what about the Native Americans who butchered Mary Ingles family? What about Native American atrocities? Should I feel terrorized when I see Native Americans? I don't. I don't throw fake blood on them or fake bloody scalps on them when I see them have a celebration.
