CALL TO ACTION:MA STATE HOUSE HEARING ON ANTI-COLUMBUS DAY BILL THIS WEDNESDAY
- THE IAA
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Dear IAA Members and Supporters
They are at it again!!!
It was just announced that there will be a hearing THIS WEDNESDAY, June 4th at 11am at the State House in the Gardner auditorium, regarding two bills, H3292 (sponsored by Rep Christine Barber (D), Somerville) and S2113 (sponsored by Sen Joanne Comerford (D), Northampton) which if approved would replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day in Massachusetts.
The bills, H3292 and S2113 must receive a favorable recommendation from the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight in order to move forward in the current legislative session. This hearing is a part of that process.
State Representatives Jeffry Turco (D), Revere, and David DeCoste (R), Norwell, have introduced a bill H3419 which would establish Indigenous People's Day on August 9th of each year. We support this bill and it will also be discussed at the hearing.
IT IS VITAL TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND MAKE SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.
If you would like to register to testify in person or virtually at this hearing you must fill out this electronic form by 4 pm TODAY: CLICK HERE
If you can not be there, written testimony is also accepted.
We have provided you a list of emails for the committee as well as a sample email you can send.
Also, if you have any questions regarding this process please email us and we will answer them for you.
Thank you for taking action and please don't hesitate to share this issue with your friends and community. We appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Tom Damigella
VP IAA, Chair of Save Columbus Committee
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The emails for the committee members are:
You can also add your state legislators to this list as well. You can look them up here: FIND MY LEGISLATOR
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Suggested sample email:
Subject: Testimony for Bill H3292/S2113 To replace Columbus Day with IPD
Dear Committee Members,
I am testifying in opposition to bills H3292/S2113 which would replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day as a State Holiday and I am asking you to vote it unfavorably out of committee.
I also advocate that you vote bill H3419 (Turco/DeCoste), which would establish Indigenous People's Day on August 9th, favorably out of committee.
I believe Italian-Americans should be recognized and respected by not taking Columbus Day away from them as a state holiday. No other group is expected to have their day merged with another group’s. It is disrespectful both to the Italian-American and Native-American communities. Columbus Day is not only important to Italian-Americans; it is a proud part of American history and tradition for ALL Americans.
There has been much misinformation circulating in the past few decades regarding the history of Christopher Columbus, and in a misguided effort to be inclusive and sensitive to all cultures, this bill produces the opposite effect - it foments exclusion and resentment, especially among Italian-Americans, who have struggled for decades to be accepted into American national life.
I urge you: please do not support H3292/S2113 and keep Columbus Day as is. Both Italian-Americans and Native-Americans deserve to preserve and protect their cultural heritage and it is wrong to take away one people’s holiday to replace it with another, especially when there is an alternative before your committee, namely H3419 which I ask you to support.
Very Respectfully,
(YOUR NAME)
(YOUR ADDRESS)
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