Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden released a statement on Columbus Day that instead celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day — an emerging rival to the federal holiday. …
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden released a statement on Columbus Day that instead celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day — an emerging rival to the federal holiday. Biden’s statement made no mention of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and Biden spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he also is celebrating Columbus Day. Biden’s statement Monday said, “Our nation has never lived up to our full promise of equality for all — especially not when it comes to the rights of the indigenous people who were here long before ships arrived from Europe.” The former vice president said, “I’ll make tribal sovereignty and upholding our federal trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations the cornerstones of federal Indian policy. I’ll support self-determination and promote self-governance.” Biden committed to “putting more land into trust and protecting our natural and cultural treasures; boosting investment in schools, roads, housing, clean water and broadband creating good-paying jobs; tackl[ing] the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women; and [increasing] funding for the Indian Health Service.” President Trump on Monday, by contrast, called on federal authorities to home in on the “Radical Left” and Antifa after rioters in Portland toppled statues of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt on Sunday during Columbus Day weekend “day of rage” protests.
