Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 4, 2000
Columbus Day Parade should take place
In 1992, threats of violence forced the Italian American community to cancel the "Columbus Day Parade." Civic leaders and the press decried the cancellation, but little was done to restore the celebration of Italian American culture.
This year, a group of Italian Americans were able to secure a parade permit, but again faced intimidation from groups threatening violence. In a meeting brokered by the U.S. Justice Department, the group agreed to drop the name "Columbus" in order to avoid the atmosphere of violence that disrupted the parade in 1992.
Clearly, the Knights of Columbus would not feel welcome at such a parade.
With the support of the American Civil Liberties Union, which saw the agreement as a violation of the First Amendment, the Italian American community decided to restore the name of Columbus to the parade, which will take place this Saturday. The City of Denver now states that no violence will be tolerated during the event.
The Knights of Columbus will march in the parade.
Carlo "CM" Margiaracina, who helped organize the parade along with George Vendegnia of the Sons of Italy New Generation, told the Register that underlying the rhetoric surrounding Columbus was something he has yet to encounter: "anti-Catholicism."
"Columbus brought the Catholic faith to this continent," he told the Register. "I work in the Hispanic community and have found that the Catholic faith binds everything together."
Margiaracina points out that, 50 years ago, Italian Americans were the new immigrants and could be found working in fields across northern Colorado. Through faith and culture, he believes the Italian American community shares a great deal in common with Hispanics.
America is a land of immigrants. From Eastern Europeans to the Vietnamese, most came to this land to escape persecution and threats of violence. Many chapters in American history need to be examined as we continue to shape our national conscience, but this must be done with respect and reason.
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