VOL. 124 - NO. 42 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER 16, 2020 $.35 A COPY Why Christopher Columbus Park and Columbus Day Matters by Diane Modica As Italian Americans celebrate Columbus Day in principles to America. These principles have Boston, it is important that we address the mali- helped shape the United States — including a cious false narratives and deceptive claims that belief that all persons are created equal. Earlier are being promoted in order to tarnish, destroy, immigrants were followed by immigrants from and undermine the reputation of Christopher Asia, South and Central America, Africa, and the Columbus. Special interest groups dominate the Middle East who have enthusiastically embraced public and political discourse with the goal of these principles. erasing any accurate reference to this brilliant In the name of Urban Renewal, North Enders navigator and explorer. watched the demolition of the adjacent West End, They carry out vandalism against these symbols a racially and ethnically diverse adjacent neigh- with impunity. Defacing, defaming, and remov- borhood to make way for Charles River Park, a ing the symbols about which Italian Americans high-rise, luxury development. But the Italian feel so passionately disrespects hard won heritage of the North End would not be discarded accomplishments, and the contributions made in the name of development. So they fought for by Italian Americans to the City of Boston, the the park … they fought for the statue. They staked Commonwealth, and to this nation. their claim and preserved their heritage. For decades, Christopher Columbus has been This history and passion motivated North the symbol through which Italian Americans have Enders fi ght to prevent high-rise development on celebrated their ethnicity. Columbus Day is the the waterfront parcel that is now the Christopher only day that our nation recognizes the heritage of Columbus Waterfront Park. They succeeded in an estimated 16 to 26 million Americans of Italian this effort against the powerful developers who descent, who continue to be stereotyped by the wanted to build high-rises on the site depriving entertainment, news, and advertising industries the North End of air and light and completely the other 364 days of the year. obstructing the view. Instead, fi shermen, dock and This distorted narrative would have the public factory workers, and fruit peddlers and their fami- believe that every act of inhumanity and cruelty lies, the very people who lived and made a living on throughout history of our nation began with that waterfront, were assured of expansive open News Briefs Christopher Columbus, and that all the ills of space in the park on the edge of beautiful Boston by Sal Giarratani mankind after his discovery of the Americas Harbor … which, by the way, we all enjoy today. should be laid at his feet. However, one need Ironically, that ethnic history, park history, only take the time to do the research to discover and enduring vitality is the distinctive brand that The Big Apple otherwise. Numerous scholarly articles, books, consistently attracts new residents, businesses, and original sources address and debunk claims and visitors to the neighborhood. Yet now, incred- Wants Shutdowns by Zip Codes made against Columbus of slave trading, racism, ibly, the statue has been vandalized and moved Last week, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was ask- genocide, theft of native lands, opportunism, out of the park. Next, the anti-Columbus groups ing the state for the right to lock down neighborhoods ruthlessness, greed, violence, and thirst for glory. have their sights set on changing the park name experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. The plan For much of its history, the United States has and abolishing the Columbus holiday. While they would close all non-essential businesses in nine zip considered Columbus worthy of admiration, and espouse self-determination and acceptance for codes where positive test results exceed three percent. rightly so. He was an extraordinary man whose their own causes, they have no qualms about Schools apparently are no longer deemed “essential,” navigational skills and talent, courage, and reli- disregarding and destroying what previous North and will be closed. gious convictions motivated him to make this Enders fought for and achieved by pursuing their During a news conference the next day, Governor historic voyage of discovery. The commemora- self-determination. Andrew Cuomo approved only part of the plan, closing tion of this great Italian explorer was based upon Let’s be clear. Italian Americans have no fi ght schools but keeping non-essential businesses open. It his singular achievement in the discovery of the with the Indigenous peoples. As the earliest is so funny to watch the mayor and governor duke it Americas. To this day, sailors still use the route settlers of the Americas, we acknowledge and out over COVID-19 even if both are completely wrong Columbus devised to cross the Atlantic. appreciate their contributions and traditions. headed. From a local perspective, it is essential to under- We do recognize their historic mistreatment and The mayor doesn’t get it; there are no walls around stand the North End connection to Christopher the problems that arose from it. We acknowl- neighborhoods. If you live in a lock down zip code, you Columbus and the park that bears his name. edge the psychological and economic impacts of can take a short walk out of your zip code into someone Moreover, the history and struggles of Italian repeated, unfair, and egregious policy decisions else’s zip code. Will New York City create its own Stasi Americans in the United States is critical. It is by the United States government towards them. like East Germany or go like Cuba? Papers please! New replete with tragedy and discrimination including We support their continued efforts to correct the Yorkers living in hot zone zip codes will only move out lynching’s, beatings, labeling as enemy aliens, the injustices that remain. But it is misguided for into other neighborhoods, which might cause de Blasio executions of Sacco and Vanzetti, and stereotyping them to lay all the abuse and oppression infl icted to lock down more zip code areas. as criminals to name just a few. But inspiration upon them by others at the feet of Christopher Closing schools as Cuomo seeks is not that much can be taken from their numerous accomplish- Columbus. Moreover, it fosters division because smarter. Remember, babies, kids, and teens account ments and fi ghts for justice. A case in point in the it separates people who can identify common for roughly 5 percent of confi rmed cases and 0.06 1970s is the park and the statue. North Enders ground; who can unite against acts of bias, big- percent of all reported deaths. and other Italian American citizens organized otry, defamation and prejudice, and who can fi ght Trump Pulls Plug On and worked tirelessly to have a Columbus statue for social and economic justice. COVID-19 Relief Talks sculpted, shipped from Italy, and installed in a We support the efforts of the Indigenous Peoples Last week, President Trump called an abrupt halt new waterfront park that would be named in his to force a redressing of these inequities and the to negotiations with House Democrats led by Speaker honor. long-term ramifi cations of such policies. We also Nancy Pelosi over a new round of COVID-19 relief for all The question is not why Columbus, but rather support Indigenous Peoples Day but not as a those working-class families and middle-class home- why not? Not only was Columbus a symbol for replacement for the celebration of Columbus Day. owners just trying to survive in the aftermath of the Catholic immigrants, especially Italian Americans, With only 12 recognized federal holidays, that but he was an example of a fearless and pas- leaves 353 possible days to recognize the contri- (Continued on Page 10) sionate explorer. Following Columbus, millions butions of Indigenous Peoples. It makes no sense of European immigrants brought their music, to take away recognition from one ethnic group to art, science, medicine, philosophy, and religious solve the problems of another group. THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, OCTOBER 16, 2020 Res Publica by David Trumbull Massachusetts Republican State Committee Votes Unanimously in Support of Resolution Opposing Ranked-Choice Voting HERCULES Ballot Measure The Legendary Strong Man The Massachusetts Republican State Committee voted unani- mously on October 8, 2020 in support of a resolution opposing the ranked-choice voting ballot measure that will be decided by voters next month, a proposal the resolution says ignores the fact that the “success of our voting system depends on simplicity, clarity, and ease of use for all.” A ranked-choice voting system goes against the Massachusetts Constitution, which has for 240 years held that “the person with the ‘highest number of votes’ is the winner of an election,” the resolution notes. A copy of the resolution is posted below. “One person, one vote. That’s the bedrock of American elections,” said Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Jim Lyons. “If ranked-choice voting had existed in 1860, Abraham Lincoln would Roman relief (3rd century AD) depicting a sequence of the Labours of Hercules, representing not have been elected president, that’s a fact.” (from left to right): the Nemean lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Erymanthian Boar, the Ceryneian Hind, the Stymphalian birds, the Girdle of Hippolyta, the Augean stables, the Cretan Bull and OFFERED BY the Mares of Diomedes STATE COMMITTEEWOMAN AMY CARNEVALE MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE Mythology identifi es Primary mortal named Alcmene.