Sicilian Culture: News: Columbus Events' New Focus: Mourning - Opponents Say They Won't Rule Out Protests

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Columbus Events' New Focus: Mourning
Opponents Say They Won't Rule Out Protests
By Sheba R. Wheeler, Denver Post
September 30, 2001 - - Christopher Columbus , as it turns out, will have little to do with a march in Denver on Oct. 8.
But the use of his name in the march's title will have some American Indian and Hispanic groups warily standing by, ready to protest any event they perceive as paying homage to a man they have denounced as a slave trader who committed genocide.
Protesters with a group called Transform Columbus Day Alliance, as well as the Columbus Day Parade Committee, agree that it's inappropriate to organize any parades in light of the tragedy the nation suffered on Sept. 11.
Each organization will have its own twist on events for the weekend before the Oct. 8 holiday, with activities geared more toward healing rather than the celebration of Columbus Day that got about 150 protesters arrested last year for blocking a parade for about an hour.
C.M. Mangiaracina, an organizer of last year's parade who is not associated with the parade committee, obtained a permit in June to hold this year's parade. After last year's unrest, he said, he was more than ready for a second round with the protesters. But not after Sept. 11.
Like thousands of others, Mangiaracina said, he spent the day struggling to find his family back East. They were safe, but he said he realized then that he was more American than Italian.
His parade is now dubbed 'Columbus Day 2001: A National Day of Mourning,' a solemn procession of Coloradans saying a rosary for those lives lost and praying for the families still left hoping for a miracle.
'There will be no signs declaring our love for Christopher Columbus ,' he said. 'I can renew that fight at any time. Instead I will pray for the people that were killed in that atrocity and hope their families will gain some sort of closure.'
Mangiaracina said he expects about 300 people to walk in his march. Participants will meet at an early Mass Oct. 8 at a church - purposely unnamed to ward off any protesters, Mangiaracina said - before assembling at 15th and Welton streets at 8:30 a.m.
The march will proceed at 10 a.m. without the fanfare of candy- throwing, colorful floats or shiny low-riders. Instead, a Celtic band will accompany the procession with solemn music. Participants will march to the City and County Building.
'Any one of my friends in the Italian community are free to march in a day of mourning,' said Dave Sprecace, chairman of the Columbus Day Parade Committee. 'That's (Mangiaracina's) way to do something good for the community. But the committee feels that having a fundraiser is the best way to help.'
In that respect, the parade committee will be collecting donations for the Clear Channel Relief Fund starting at noon Oct. 8 at Rocky Mountain Lake Park. A candlelight vigil will start at sunset.
Meanwhile, members of the Transform Columbus Day Alliance have questioned their own plans, wondering if anyone will even care about anti-Columbus Day activities when people's minds are on the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. But they're going ahead. The group's scheduled activities Oct. 5-8 were conceived of as a model to Colorado and the nation as an alternative to Columbus Day celebrations. Those plans include a Festival of Resistance Concert at Ogden Theater, a Four Directions All Nations March to the Capitol, a spiritual gathering at the Capitol and a protest of Mangiaracina's march if Columbus is praised in it.
'In the end, we decided that the values we are promoting are the same ones the world must embrace if we are to avoid more tragedies like ... Sept. 11,' said Mark Cohen, an alliance member.
'We've seen the demonizing and scapegoating of Arab Americans and Muslims since the attack,' he said. 'The kind of symbolism of mutual respect, diversity and cooperation that our march represents is an antidote for what the nation has suffered.'

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