dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Every year, the response to Columbus Day grows more contentious. Attitudes toward the holiday range from apathy to hate, and some now even argue that the holiday represents the evils of Western imperialism. Some states have canceled the celebration of Columbus altogether, and, according to one report, 130 cities no longer observe the holiday.

But while Columbus Day and monuments to the Italian explorer have fallen on hard times, celebrations of the day are still strong in some cities, particularly in those with citizens who have a strong connection to their Italian heritage.

One such city is Syracuse, New York, in large part thanks to the work of the local Columbus Monument Corporation. This year, they expect thousands of attendants at their Columbus Day festivities, which included a Saturday mass and the Monday wreath-laying at the historic Syracuse Columbus monument.

Officially dedicated in 1934, Syracuse’s Columbus monument was sculpted in Florence and constructed with stone from Italy, according to Anthony Ilacqua, a member of the corporation who spoke with The Daily Wire.

Ilacqua said that many people don’t understand the meaning of the monument or the connection many residents have to it. In reality, he said the monument was a large part of how Italian Americans who immigrated to the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century, like his grandfather, made cities like Syracuse home.

“It was an outgrowth of pride in their national heritage and their Italian identity and their love for this country. That’s really what it was about,” he explained.

Recently, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh (I-NY) announced that the statue would be removed. In response, the Monument Corporation has launched an effort to save the statue, which is located in the heart of downtown Syracuse, and was built and paid for by many residents’ ancestors.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-not-about-hate-syracuse-residents-stand-up-for-historic-columbus-monument-as-mayor-plans-removal