American Indian groups accused Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic legislative leaders Tuesday of political cowardice for denying their request to eliminate the Columbus Day holiday in Colorado in the just-ended session.
Representatives of the American Indian Movement of Colorado gathered on the state Capitol steps to express their disappointment with Democrats, who took control of the legislature and governor’s office this year for the first time in nearly half a century.
With that leadership change, they said, they hoped to finally get the controversial holiday knocked off Colorado’s books.
“We believed it was the perfect opportunity to break from the past,” Kim Cameron said.
The group has been trying for years to end the celebration of Christopher Columbus, who they say was responsible for genocide against American Indians.
However, she said, the Democratic leadership “showed political cowardice in failing to address anti-Indian racism.”
Glenn Morris said the group had been working with Sen. Suzanne Williams, an Aurora Democrat of Cherokee ancestry, to draft legislation to do away with Columbus Day, but that legislative leaders scuttled it.
Morris said Ritter and legislative leaders told them the time was not right to deal with such a divisive issue.
“When is the time right to reverse racism?” he asked, noting that resolutions against genocide in places like Sudan and Armenia were passed by lawmakers this year.
Ritter’s spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the governor disagrees “with any characterization that we are not taking seriously issues of importance to Colorado’s American Indian communities.”
“The offices of the governor and lieutenant governor are actively working with our tribes and American Indian communities on ways to create jobs and economic opportunities,” Dreyer said. “We’re focusing on improving health care and education as well as protecting civil rights, improving public safety and fighting racial discrimination. The governor and lieutenant governor feel very strongly about doing all we can in these areas, and we are.”
According to the activists, 17 states have done away with holidays honoring Columbus.
Capitol bureau chief Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or jclausing@denverpost.com.
