Italian Americans in Springfield, Massachusetts, gathered on Columbus Day Monday to honor its namesake. Some of those present said they oppose an effort to get rid of the holiday. The ceremony was held at a statue of Christopher Columbus in Springfield's South End and was hosted by the local chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Italy.
Salvatore Circosta, who leads the group, said he opposes a bill in the Massachusetts legislature, which would replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day. "I think a better situation would be instead of replacing, adding," he said. "Let's have a new holiday. Let's honor the Indigenous People, the Native Americans but it shouldn't come at the sacrifice of the Italian holiday of Christopher Columbus."
