8 Cities Have Abolished Columbus Day

Albuquerque has become the eighth city to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day

The City Council of Albuquerque voted six to three to recognize October 12 – historically known throughout the country as Columbus Day – as indigenous people’s day in a new proclamation.

City Council member Ray Garduno wrote and proposed the proclamation after local groups launched an “Abolish Columbus Day” demonstration on City Hall last year.

Indigenous people make up 4.6 of Albuquerque’s population making the city home to the highest concentration of indigenous people in the state, according to USUncut.com.

Other cities who have made similar measure are Lawrence, Kansas; Portland, Oregon; St. Paul, Minnesota; Bexar County, Texas; Anadarko, Oklahoma; Olympia, Washington; and Alpena, Missouri.

All have passed these policies within the last two months. The trend comes as indigenous peoples’ activists call for a national recognition of indigenous peoples’ struggles and a celebration of their culture.