The Austin City Council voted Thursday to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, a holiday that honors Native Americans, and no longer recognize Columbus Day.
Austin follows such U.S. cities as Berkeley, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, and most
recently, Los Angeles, in replacing the traditional holiday to instead declare that the second Tuesday of October honor America's indigenous people.
Councilmembers approved a resolution that sought "to create a path of healing and reconciliation" noting that October 12, 1492, marked the "beginning of the colonization of indigenous people that forever changed their identity, cultures, and achievements."
The resolution proclaims that the City of Austin has a responsibility to "oppose the systematic racism" directed at indigenous people in the United States" and promote "closing of the equity gap" through policies and practices that "reflect the experiences" of indigenous peoples, ensuring access and opportunity, plus "honor our nation's indigenous roots, history, and contributions."
It states: "...honoring the role of Columbus as a historical figure promotes values of intolerance and violence that are still common in today's world and are opposed to the values of the citizens of Austin."
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