A number of cities across the United States are ditching Columbus Day for Indigenous People’s Day, with Albuquerque being one of the most recent to do so.
Outgoing City Council President Rey Garduño recently introduced a proclamation that names the second Monday of October in Albuquerque as Indigenous Peoples Day.
Screenshot from the city of Albuquerque website on the morning of 10/12/15.
While Albuquerque does not officially observe Columbus Day as the federal and state government do, the city still had to take down references to the old holiday from its website and Twitter account.
City services were available on Monday and workers did not receive the day off.
As late as Monday morning, there was mention of Columbus Day on both Twitter and cabq.gov, the official city website.
In an email to New Mexico Political Report a spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Berry said the city was simply trying to inform the public that city-run services were still available.
“Columbus Day is a federally recognized holiday,” wrote city spokeswoman Rhiannon Schroeder. “Prior to the proclamation done by Council President Garduno, postings on the City’s website were made to alert citizens about closures today.”
Screenshot at tweet from the city of Albuquerque account, taken on the morning of 10/12/15.
The city website said on Monday that “The City of Albuquerque’s facilities and services will be available on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015.”
The Associated Press reported that at least nine cities were recognizing Monday as Indigenous Peoples Day.
Supporters say that Christopher Columbus should not be honored because of the way he treated indigenous peoples, which included enslavement and seizing lands.
After Garduño’s proclamation passed, Councilor Dan Lewis called for a censure of the president for making what Lewis said were inflammatory comments about other councilors.
