CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Columbus Day will be observed Monday, with government offices and schools among those that will be closed for the controversial holiday.
The Columbus Day Parade is returning to Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood after taking a pause last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The parade will start at noon Monday along Mayfield and Murray Hill roads, and it will feature floats, marching bands and local artifacts, according to a news release. Before the parade, Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church at 10 a.m.
While the holiday serves as a celebration for Italian Americans, it is also a reminder of the country’s ugly past.
The holiday is named after Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who came to parts of the Americas, including various Caribbean islands that are now the Bahamas and the island later called Hispaniola. But different groups of indigenous peoples were already present when Columbus arrived. To many, he serves as a symbol of the injustices -- including millions of deaths through disease and violence -- that indigenous people endured through the colonization of the New World.
Cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix have instead chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day to commemorate the country’s indigenous people. Cincinnati and Oberlin also call the holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Akron has called the holiday North American First People’s Day since 2018. President Joe Biden made the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Friday, according to USA TODAY.
Columbus removed its Christopher Columbus statue outside city hall in July 2020. And because city employees in Columbus only receive a limited number of days off because of financial costs and through union negotiations, the city has chosen to observe Veterans Day instead of Columbus Day since 2018, said Melanie Crabill, a spokeswoman for Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s office, in a text message.
Cleveland City Council considered a proposal to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day in 2019, but some council members objected to the move. Council settled on a compromise of designating Aug. 9 as Indigenous People’s Day, but the city does not formally observe the holiday, as government offices remain open.
Here’s what’s open and closed on Columbus Day, which is also recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in other locations.
Federal offices: Closed
County offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Post offices: Closed
RTA: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s main office will be open, and weekday service will be provided.
Schools: Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, John Carroll University, the University of Akron, Notre Dame College and Cuyahoga Community College will be open. Cleveland State University offices will be open, but class isn’t in session. Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be open. Check with your local school districts to see whether classes are in session.
Libraries: Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library, Heights Libraries and Lakewood Public Library will be open normal hours. Check with your local libraries for holiday hours.
Stores, restaurants, gyms, etc.: Giant Eagle, Marc’s, Heinen’s, Costco and Dave’s Markets will be open normal hours. All branches of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland will be open normal hours.
Trash service and city hall operations: Trash pickup service days and city hall operations differ between communities, so call your local city hall to see when trash service will happen. Cleveland’s trash pickup will not be delayed.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Christopher Columbus was credited in the history books with discovering America. The article has been updated to reflect that he came to parts of the Americas, but not North America.
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