Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations highlight dispute over future of holiday

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Floats and bands lined State Street in the Loop on Monday to celebrate Columbus Day, as activists in Rogers Park pushed to replace the holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Crowds lined State Street from Wacker to Van Buren on Monday afternoon for the 70th anniversary of the Columbus Day Parade, celebrating Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who was once credited with discovering the Americas, but in recent years has become the focus of protests for his enslavement and acts of genocide against Native Americans.

Many supporters of Columbus Day, particularly Italian American groups, say they're willing to discuss all of the explorer's history, but don't want the holiday or other tributes to Columbus eliminated altogether.

But supporters of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day argue there are better ways to recognize Italian American heritage without honoring a man responsible for brutal violent acts against Native Americans.

Some local elected leaders on Monday renewed their commitment to replacing the official Columbus Day holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day.

"Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building understanding and mutual respect across all cultures, traditions, and heritages," said Ald. Maria Hadden (49th).

Hadden joined a handful of Chicago City Council members, state lawmakers, and Cook County elected leaders at Pottawatomie Park on Monday to celebrate Native American culture.

In 2017, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner recognized Indigenous Peoples Day as a commemorative holiday, but it's not an official state holiday, as efforts in Springfield to swap the holidays have stalled.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot also has opposed efforts to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day as an official city holiday. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has backed efforts to make Indigenous Peoples Day an official county holiday, but has yet to get enough votes on the county board to make the switch.