Save the parade

Save the parade
First Amendment applies to Italian-Americans, too

Oct. 5, 2000

The once traditional Columbus Day parade in Denver is certainly off to a poor start. The Italian-American organizers want, understandably, to honor the Italian-born Christopher Columbus, whom most historians credit with being the first European to land upon the shores of the "New World."

Then there are the Native-Americans who lived here for centuries before the Europeans arrived. History has called them Indians because Columbus mistakenly thought he had discovered India.

The last Columbus Day parade was in 1991; the one scheduled for 1992 was canceled after threats of violence were made. That year, the 500th the anniversary of Columbus’ original 1492 voyages, there were major celebrations in Portugal and in Spain, in Italy, and elsewhere in this country – but not Denver.

In September some agreement was reached under the auspices of the Denver mayor’s office in which spokesmen for the Italians agreed with leaders of the American Indian Movement to hold a parade in which the name of Christopher Columbus was not to be mentioned, his picture not to be shown, etc. Columbus was to be a non-person.

The city then issued a parade permit.

"No First Amendment rights for the Italians? Just the Indians?" somebody asked and it’s been chaos ever since.

City officials have run, not walked, away from responsibility for the agreement. The Italians are pleased to be able to honor their forebear and some Indians leaders are hinting at violence.

It has been pointed out that neo-Nazis have marched in Skokie, Ill., while dissenters either watched peaceably or stayed away and members of the Klan held a demonstration near the state capitol.

Meanwhile the permit still stands.

City spokesmen say they are "monitoring" the situation so as to have enough law enforcement individuals on hand to deal with whatever may arise.

Gov. Owens has said the state can provide troops to protect the public safety.

Have we really come to this?

Just a few minutes spent watching television clips of the Israelis and Palestinians going after one another these past few days should be enough to persuade these know-nothing hotheads to stop talking.

Those fellows in the Denver mayor’s office who put the pickets for the baggage handlers union at Denver International Airport out in an unused parking lot should be able to think of something. Aren’t there "inciting to riot" statutes?

A good parade is wonderful. Let’s see if this one can be rescued from the jaws of defeat.