Over 100 people made their way through Downtown Crossing in the pouring rain, many chanting to onlookers as they marched in support of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The event was hosted by United American Indians of New England, a native-led organization that fights racism, advocates for the freedom of Leonard Peltier and other political prisoners, and supports indigenous struggles nationwide — specifically in New England.
The event was also hosted and supported by Indigenous Peoples’ Day MA, North American Indian Center of Boston, Cultural Survival, New Democracy Coalition, and MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda.
The protest kicked off with speeches from Jean-Luc Pierite, the president of the North American Indian Center of Boston, and members of Indigenous Peoples’ Day MA.
“I love to see the beauty of our Indigenous people, wherever they come from, and to see our cultures being represented. I love to see our cultures being revived and used,” said Motoi Monroe, an Indigenous Peoples’ Day MA representative.
Bairaniki Colon speaks in front of the protesters.
A ceremony of prayer was held before the march. Two participants blew conch shells and directed the crowd to face each of the four cardinal directions before reaching up to the sky, blowing the conch, and bending down to earth to blow it a final time.
One of the conch blowers was Bairaniki Colon, a Taino from Puerto Rico who currently lives in Massachusetts.
“This is a movement near and dear to my heart,” Colon said. “Columbus came down onto our shores, and started the trail of tears, and caused genocides to our people where the history books wrote us off as extinct, but we’re still here. I’m here to help my brothers and sisters; I’m here to help to fight to change this name, change the mascots out of the schools … to get rid of Columbus.”
The protesters marched to the Massachusetts State House, where organization leaders spoke, then continued to Faneuil Hall chanting phrases such as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day now!” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Columbus has got to go.”
During the march, speakers joined protesters on the streets of Boston, leading them with chants and banners saying “We Are Not Vanishing, We Are Not Conquered, We Are As Strong As Ever, And #SinkingColumbus Indigenous Peoples’ Day Now!”
“We are demanding a statewide Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We currently have a bill in the statehouse to establish the day,” Pierite said during the march. “We’re demanding the passing of that bill, but also the full slate of the Massachusetts Indigenous legislative agenda.”
The bill Pierite refers to is “An Act Establishing An Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day every second Monday of October in Massachusetts General Law.
Sam Jones, a Tufts University student and member of the Indigenous Students’ Organization at Tufts (ISOT), shared she was marching in the front of the pack to support deep ties with her ancestry.
Sam Jones holds a sign that reads “We Are Protectors Not Protesters” as the march makes its way to Faneuil Hall.
“My ancestors. This is all for them,” she said. “Our resilience and love for one another is so prominent on this day . . . we are sticking together and showing solidarity for all the Indigenous people.”
Other Members of ISOT were present at the march, showing support and promoting their own event, an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration, the following day.
On top of this Indigenous People’s Day demand, Pierite called out Peter Faneuil, the person the infamous Faneuil Hall was named after. Pierite said the location should be renamed since Peter Faneuil was a cruel enslaver.
Pierite called up one more person to speak at the end of march: Chief Kenny Black Elk of Action for Equity Heritage Circle and Greater Four Corners Action Coalition.
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day should’ve happened a long time ago,” he said.
One onlooker asked, “What is one thing you would say to the people of Boston?”
“Wake Up,” Elk replied.
