Vice President Kamala Harris has recently been criticized over her hostility toward Columbus Day, where she has voiced support for changing the federally recognized holiday to “Indigenous People’s Day.” While Harris has attacked the long-celebrated holiday, the Trump campaigned has responded, affirming its support for Columbus Day.
During a speech of Harris’ shared on social media, she said, “It is an honor, of course, to be with you this week as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, as we speak truth about our nation’s history since 1934, every October, the United States has recognized the voyage of the European explorers who first landed on the shores of the Americas,” Harris said during the speech at the National Congress of American Indians Conference in 2021.”
The vice president continued, “But that is not the whole story. That has never been the whole story.” She added, “Those explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for tribal nations — perpetrating violence, stealing land and spreading disease. We must not shy away from this shameful past. And we must shed light on it and do everything we can to address the impact of the past on native communities today.”
In a press release the Trump campaign called out Harris for her statement on the beloved holiday. “Kamala Harris is your stereotypical leftist. Not only does she want to raise taxes and defund the police — she also wants to cancel American traditions like Columbus Day,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.
Leavitt maintained that former President Donald Trump would make it a point to honor Columbus Day in the face of the disrespect the famous explorer faces from the radical left. “President Trump will make sure Christopher Columbus’ great legacy is honored and protect this holiday from radical leftists who want to erase our nation’s history like Kamala Harris,” she said.
“For generations, Indigenous people have protected their lands, languages, knowledge, and traditions. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor these many contributions and recommit to working alongside Indigenous people to ensure their communities thrive for generations to come,” Harris shared to social media on Columbus Day last year.
Further demonstrating her refusal to celebrate Columbus Day, Harris wrote last year, “On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we pay respect to Tribal Nations and indigenous history. Today and every day, let us continue to celebrate and uplift the rich contributions of Indigenous peoples—their leadership has made our country stronger.”
Watch Harris below:
Users on social media blasted Harris’ stance on the holiday. “Columbus brought Christianity to the Americas and provided an escape from religious and political persecution in Europe! Thousands of people made that dangerous voyage on tiny wooden ships! If not for Columbus and the other explorers we would not have this great country founded on Free speech and freedom of religion!” one person wrote.
Another user criticized Harris’ stance, writing, “The Vice President of the United States of America is smearing the discovery of what would become the United States of America. She can never be president. She would oversee the dismantling of the greatest nation the world has ever known.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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