Honor Indigenous Peoples in Utah

Dear Sir, It goes on to say that “Columbus Day is a painful symbol of traumatic past.” It’s time we do something about it. We are suggesting, instead of celebrating Columbus Day, we need to honor The Indigenous people by dedicating a Day of Solidarity and Mourning with the Indigenous Peoples. Fact of the matter is, Columbus’ atrocities against humanity are as follow. Raping, pillaging, murders lynching, stealing, just to name a few. Nonetheless, he’s glorified and immortalized by a national holiday in his name because he is credited with "discovering" America. The ancestors of living Native Americans arrived in what is now the United States at least 15,000 years ago, possibly much earlier, from Asia via Beringia. A vast variety of peoples, societies and cultures subsequently developed. Native Americans were greatly affected by the European colonization of the Americas, which began in 1492, and their population declined precipitously mainly due to introduced diseases as well as warfare including biological warfare, the territorial confiscation and slavery. History proves, The Native Americans were already here, of course; and his arrival on the shores of North America began the centuries-old campaign of theft, murder, and dehumanization that has robbed native nations of their lands, their health, and their dignity. By his own account, Columbus enslaved people, destroyed cultures, and terrorized those who challenged his rule. It is time government did something about it. Wistfully, and regretfully, there is little we can do to restore the tribes that were decimated by Europeans' greed, but we can begin to rectify this horrific injustice by refusing to glorify Columbus. Instead recognizing our shared humanity with the natives whose lives and land are continue to be destroyed. It is time to stop celebrating the crimes of Columbus. We must stand in solidarity with the Indigenous people. We demand an end to Columbus Day. Instead of glorifying a person who enslaved and murdered people, destroyed cultures, and terrorized those who challenged his rule, we seek to honor these communities hereby demanding sovereignty, recognition, and rights. We encourage our government to introduce legislation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day