There were two very different events in downtown Syracuse Monday, as central New Yorkers observed both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Monday morning, music echoed through Columbus Circle as more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the local Italian American community. 

Local dignitaries placed a wreath at the foot of the Christopher Columbus monument, but many people say the day goes beyond the controversial historical figure. "This holiday, this feast day, whatever you want to call it, is more than just one man or what that one man did. For this, it's all about our heritage," said Dominick DeMichele, whose parents came to the United States from Italy.