In the midst of a fierce debate over the future of the Christopher Columbus Plaza on Abriendo Avenue, Pueblo's Italian community came together for the 115th annual Columbus Day Celebration. However, Columbus Day 2020 had a different look: no protesters.
For decades, protesters from Pueblo's indigenous communities came out to the bust of Christopher Columbus across from the Rawlings library every holiday to chant and call for its removal. The protesters believe the Columbus figure is racist against indigenous heritage and culture. This also stems from more than a dozen straight weeks of protests at the statue every Sunday. Some even led to violence and arrests
