Red Wing considers replacing Columbus Day

Officials in Red Wing are considering replacing Columbus Day with a new holiday to honor American Indians.

The idea comes from Red Wing High School social studies teacher Scott Bender, who accuses history books and popular culture of romanticizing the story of Christopher Columbus. He says the explorer, who reached the New World in 1492, enslaved thousands of indigenous people and committed acts of savagery.

Bender tells the Post-Bulletin of Rochester Columbus is not a man to celebrate.

Instead, he proposes that Red Wing designate Oct. 12 as First Peoples Day to honor people he says really deserve it, and as a way to straighten out the historical record.

The Red Wing Human Rights Commission recently voted unanimously to support the proposal, and the City Council is considering it.

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