Every year Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday of October. Columbus Day 2021 is the 529th anniversary and this year it falls on Monday, October 11. It is one of 11 federal holidays, and all nonessential government offices will be closed. NYC public schools will also be closed, but according to the schools.nyc.gov, the holiday is listed as a day off celebrating Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People’s Day, instead of Columbus Day.

While we agree with celebrating Italian Heritage and Indigenous People, and all the people who make up our country, we do not believe in erasing history, and cannot and will not erase Columbus. Many others also do not take the removal of their lifelong celebrations lightly. The officially recognized occasion of Europe’s introduction to the Americas is worthy of commemoration. It is historically and culturally profound.