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Columbus Day at Columbia brings out protestors

Though Columbus Day is just a normal Monday for Columbia, students took to College Walk for protests—and hamburgers.

As members of the Native American Council and Latino outreach group Lucha held separate activist events, the Columbia University College Republicans threw their annual barbecue to “celebrate the day we should have off,” said Lauren Salz, CU Republicans chair.

Though the University does not officially recognize Columbus Day as a holiday, students from the Native American Council assembled for the fourth year in a row on Low Plaza to lobby for a school-wide celebration of Indigenous People’s Day.

Club leaders John Haney and Halley Hair said they hoped to spread awareness about issues surrounding indigenous groups in the Americas. NAC members spelled out “Indigenous People’s Day” along the right-hand wall facing Low Library in mock “Wanted” posters for Christopher Columbus. The posters accused Columbus of grand theft, genocide, racism, and “initiating the destruction of a culture.” […]

The College Republicans took advantage of the warm weather to host their annual barbecue on Van Am Quad, and handed out free food throughout. Salz said that she witnessed this tradition during her visit to Columbia as a junior in high school, and wanted to carry on the tradition during her time at the University. Salz acknowledged the other events, but said the barbecue was not meant to run counter to them.

“We are not in opposition to the other groups. We support their right to celebrate their causes,” Salz said. “We are simply using Columbus Day as a good excuse to have a holiday and eat good food.”

Read the full story at the Columbia Spectator.

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