WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:06.200 It's Night Side with Dan Ray's Costin's video. 2 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:10.880 All right, welcome back everyone. I will bet you that 3 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:15.000 some of you had a holiday today. If you work 4 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.559 for the federal government, I found out the post office 5 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:20.440 was closed, went to mail a couple of letters. If 6 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:24.000 you work for the state, it's a holiday here in Massachusetts. 7 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:28.120 Is Christopher Columbus Day. Nationally? Is Christopher Columbus Day here 8 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:33.880 in Massachusetts. Although there's a lot of people who don't 9 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.640 think it should be Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus Day. I 10 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:39.479 like Christopher Columbus Day. As you know, I'm not Italian, 11 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:43.479 but I feel it's it's a holiday that we've celebrated 12 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.280 for many, many years with us. Is State Representative Jeff Turco. 13 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:51.840 Jeff is from for those of you who are keeping 14 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:54.840 score from you, Winthrop and you have a little bit 15 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:58.880 of Revere maybe as well, Jeff, if I'm not mistaken, I. 16 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:00.600 Do, damn. I have a little forty percent of the 17 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:04.400 city of Revia in all of my childhood, in all 18 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:05.719 of Winthrops and. 19 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:06.400 All of Winthrop. 20 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:11.959 And I know that you celebrated a holiday today. Tell 21 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:13.000 us what you did today? 22 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.680 Can I say it in public? Dear? I hope, so 23 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.280 happy Columbus Day. I say to you, this is it's 24 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:26.120 been a federally recognized and state recognized holidays since at 25 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:29.680 least I believe, in nineteen thirty seven. First recognized in 26 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:32.840 this country in eighteen ninety two in response to the 27 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:35.680 largest single day lynching of Americans in the history of 28 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:39.000 this country in New Orleans in eighteen ninety one, when 29 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:43.079 eleven Sicilian Americans are brutally murdered because they were Sicilian. 30 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:47.680 And that's where the tradition of recognizing Columbus Date comes from. 31 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:48.879 And I'm proud to support it. 32 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:51.680 Yeah, and I wish you were happy on Columbus Date 33 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.120 as well. 34 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.799 I had many friends and many listeners in the show 35 00:01:56.280 --> 00:02:01.280 proud supporters of Columbus Day. When we talked earlier today, 36 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:03.799 I thought you made a great point and that, uh, 37 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.159 there's plenty of room in the calendar for other other days, 38 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.280 and there's no reason that we cannot also have a 39 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:18.639 day celebrating indigenous people. But it doesn't necessarily have to 40 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:22.439 be the second Monday or whatever the designation is. When 41 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:24.240 when you and I were growing up, it was always 42 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.240 October twelfth because that was Columbus's birthday. 43 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:28.879 Correct me if I'm wrong on that one, but I 44 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.159 believe I'm correct. 45 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:36.680 Yep, yes, sir, And yeah. 46 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:37.319 What do you think there almost seems to be like 47 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:41.599 a group of folks who not only want Indigenous People's Day, 48 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:43.680 but they want to make sure it's on what what 49 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:44.439 what would have been? 50 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.039 Or what would yeah, would have been Columbus Day? 51 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.080 Yeah, oh, well that's it the end. I mean, this 52 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.560 is like you have to look at Yeah, I'm sure 53 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.199 there are some people of good motive, but you have 54 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.439 to look at the underlying motive behind this. I mean, 55 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:04.039 these people are not proposed to replace Columbus with Vespucci 56 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:08.280 Day or of Arizona Day. You know, they're simply looking 57 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:12.400 to pit one ethnic group against another group. And it's 58 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.919 just really is beyond the pale upsetting. You know, the 59 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:21.240 United Nations recognizes Indigenous People Day on August ninth. It's 60 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:23.319 the only month of the year we don't have a holiday. 61 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.000 If people wanted to recognize Indigenous people, they can easily 62 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.280 go to August ninth. But this is there's something more 63 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:33.080 sinister behind this effort, and that effort really is let's 64 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:35.879 wipe Italian people off the face of the calendar and 65 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:39.879 that's the path that's so difficult to swallow. That people 66 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.759 don't know the history. They're blinded by the lack of 67 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.879 education of why we celebrate Columbus Day and why it 68 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:51.000 means so much to people of Italian American descent in 69 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.840 the United States. And that's why many of us are 70 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:57.960 fighting to educate people and talk about the eleven Sicilian 71 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.879 Americans who were killed, and why did President Harrison and 72 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.000 why did President Roosevelt make the decision to recognize Columbus 73 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.919 Day in this country? And why is it the law 74 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.360 of land now? I mean the you know these communities 75 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:13.400 that ignore the law. I mean the city of Boston 76 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.480 and Cambridge and Newton sort of, they're like the modern 77 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.519 day election deny is instead of denying election results, they 78 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:22.160 deny the law, the Carmelwaalth and law of the United States, 79 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.959 and say, oh, we disagree with the law, so we're 80 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:29.040 going to ignore it. And it really is just it's offensive. 81 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:37.519 Interesting point are the efforts at the legislature to replace 82 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:41.439 Columbus Day. I mean, it is at this point a 83 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.439 Massachusetts state holiday. Massachusetts state. I don't believe the state 84 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:49.120 State House was open and functioning today. I know the 85 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:53.480 federal government wasn't open and functioning post offices were closed. 86 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:58.959 Is there a there has to be some members of 87 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.160 the legislature who would like to change the celebration today 88 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:05.639 from Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day. 89 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.240 Oh yeah, are you? I mean, there's definitely there's a 90 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:13.439 move afoot. It's been for a number of years. People 91 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:17.120 that you know, have filed legislation to get rid of 92 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:20.680 Columbus Day, to stop recognizing the contributions of Italian Americans, 93 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:26.600 to call Indigenous People Day. And fortunately that bill has 94 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:29.000 it's all, it's come out of committee the last couple 95 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:32.360 of years, but it's never gotten beyond that process. And 96 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.240 I think that's the feeling amongst a lot of legislators 97 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.759 that you know, enough is enough to all cancel culture, 98 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:42.639 applying today's standards to the standards of hundreds of years ago, 99 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:48.639 you know, as well as your kid. Really, the sadness 100 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:51.240 in the year twenty twenty four to be pit trying 101 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:56.199 to pit Italian Americans against Indigenous people is just quite 102 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.319 an affront to all, to both groups. 103 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:01.199 Really, what I want to do is I want to 104 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.439 take a break, Jeff. I'd like to have you stay 105 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.279 with us and invite people to call. There has to 106 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:10.639 be a way in which both groups can be reconciled 107 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:15.720 here and that there can be a celebration of both groups. 108 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:18.519 And it would seem to me that the easiest and 109 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:23.040 the cleanest solution would be to maintain Columbus Day as 110 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:27.040 it has been holiday for nearly one hundred years, and 111 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.959 then add something to the calendar you mentioned August ninth. 112 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:34.439 There may be other proposals out there, but again, I 113 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:37.480 don't like this idea about one group has to win 114 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.639 and one group has to lose a day that they've 115 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.600 celebrated for decades. I don't have I don't happen to 116 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.120 be either an indigenous person or an Italian American, although 117 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:52.959 my children a twenty five percent Italian American. And let's 118 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.720 let's see what people have to say. I do think, Jeff, 119 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.480 you just made a point that resonated with me, and 120 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:03.000 that is that it seems to me that the fervor 121 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:07.279 to replace Columbus Day has diminished in the last two 122 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:08.040 or three years. 123 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.920 And I think that's a good sign. 124 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.319 And now if people can reach out and come to 125 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:20.199 an agreement where both groups do not feel diminished in 126 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:24.759 any way and both groups are given due recognition. I 127 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.079 think that's the way to go. Uh, we'll see what 128 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:30.319 our listeners think. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten 129 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:33.240 thirty six one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. My 130 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:37.399 guest is State Representative Jeff Turco. He's a Democrat in 131 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:41.680 the legislature. He represents forty percent of the city of 132 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:44.759 Revere as well as the town of Winthrop. And we'll 133 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.480 be back with phone calls in more conversation, and I'll 134 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:49.120 give you a little bit of a sense of how 135 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:54.199 both of these days were celebrated. WBZ covered Columbus Day 136 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:00.720 celebrations as well as as as an Indigenous People Day 137 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:01.759 celebration as well. 138 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.360 We'll be back on Nightside right after this. 139 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:07.759 Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World 140 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.600 night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio. 141 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:17.000 This was one of the Columbus Day reports filed today 142 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:23.279 by Kyle Shaffle of the WBZ. Kyle Chef Hio Okay, 143 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:27.680 Hio okay, Hile Schaffle Okay. I wasn't sure that pronunciation. 144 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.720 This is cut number twenty six. 145 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:36.240 It's become a sensitive cultural nerve. They didn't want Columbus 146 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:37.360 to even exist. 147 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:40.639 But US Italians, you know, he means a lot to us. 148 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.960 The opposition to Columbus Day and the push to rename 149 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.919 it as Indigenous People's Day has gained steam in recent years, 150 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.519 but in Boston, Columbus still has his champions. 151 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:54.480 It's bravery against the unknown to set sail across the void. 152 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.360 Basically at that point. 153 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.320 Mark was wearing an honest to goodness Christopher Columbus outfit 154 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.600 he bought online. The Italian Americans have seen the day 155 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.240 as a celebration of their heritage since the late eighteen hundreds. 156 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.679 That's why the Italian American Alliance is holding this event 157 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:07.279 here in East. 158 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.519 The grades were stopped in the north there in East Boshington, 159 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.960 so we didn't want the tradition to disappear. 160 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.759 For many here, Columbus and Italian heritage is still a 161 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:16.480 point of prime. 162 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:21.679 I tell people we have Columbus Leonardo da Vinci Volentino. 163 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.879 Style Schaffele w busy Boston's news Radio. 164 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:28.600 Well, right back again with state Representative Jeff Turco. Jeff, 165 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:33.200 let's see what our listeners think about this. You very 166 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:36.960 clearly want to maintain Columbus Day, which I understand, but 167 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:41.240 you would not be opposed to supporting a piece of 168 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:46.399 legislation which would add to the Massachusetts holiday calendar a 169 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:52.039 day recognizing the contribution of Indigenous Americans and their ancestors. 170 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:55.759 Correct. Correct, and in fact, just to prove the hypocrisy 171 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.480 of the people against Coumbus Day, I intend to file 172 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:02.559 legislation and the next legis session to name August ninth 173 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.080 as Indigenous People Day in the Commonwealth and to recognize 174 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:09.879 the contributions of Indigenous and Native American people. I'm going 175 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:12.559 to say, you can do that without attacking the Italian people. 176 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:13.240 Yeah. 177 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.120 Great, When you do that, let me know and we'll 178 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.399 do some We'll support you on that, because again I 179 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:18.960 appreciate them. 180 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:20.919 We're definitely gonna do that in January in the next 181 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.639 filing session. 182 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:23.879 Well, then you can count on it. You let me know. 183 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.759 In the meantime, let's go to phone call. It's going 184 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:28.320 to go start it off tonight with our friend Karen 185 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:31.360 in Wisconsin. Karen, you are first on night side with 186 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:34.279 Jeff Turco, SAT representative here in Massachusetts. 187 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:42.120 Go ahead, Karen, Hi, Jeff. Dan actually actually and probably 188 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:48.120 calling off topic because I heard Dan say what did 189 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.799 you do for the holiday? And so I picked up 190 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:54.080 the phone call before. 191 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:57.000 Okay, so what you call. Took the time to go, 192 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.679 what what did you celebrate today? 193 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:04.320 Well, I didn't realize it was actually holiday all day 194 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.799 until I just got a message and somebody said Happy 195 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:17.120 Indigenous People's Day to me, and which I wrote back, well, 196 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.639 and she gave me good news and I just wrote 197 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:26.519 back yippie for you. But I love Indians and out 198 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:32.240 here I was brought up with Indian, you know, with Indians, 199 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:36.519 and I didn't mean to. Then I realized it was 200 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:42.200 all political, and so my call doesn't really fit in. 201 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.559 With Well, I'm glad you called. Nonetheless, always good to 202 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:48.320 hear your Voicecaren. We will talk later on maybe Okay, 203 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:48.960 I can't. 204 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:56.600 I'm sorry. I clearly I am for both. Actually I 205 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.799 would like to see Columbus day stay and then another day. 206 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.799 That's exactly what my guess is talking about. 207 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:08.639 I did hear it all, so nice to stand. I'll 208 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:10.000 give you. Okay, thank you. 209 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.440 Let me go to Stephen Camp. Steve, hopefully you've called 210 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.039 in on topic. 211 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:15.559 Run ahead, Steve, I'll try. 212 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:21.759 I don't think you. I think you underestimate the animosity 213 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:29.720 aimed at Columbus. I mean people at universities and probably 214 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:35.279 throughout the country. They despise Columbus. They feel he's a criminal, 215 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:41.000 and they feel pretty much that way about much of 216 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:45.960 our Western civilization and our country and our founders and 217 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:50.919 our presidents. I mean, I think the sixteen nineteen project 218 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:55.399 that has been promoted by the New York Times. They 219 00:12:55.440 --> 00:13:00.320 hate Columbus, they hate our background, our history, and so 220 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.559 I don't think it's simply a matter of having one 221 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:06.200 day for indigenous peoples in another day. 222 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.960 I don't know how they're going to respond to that, 223 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.799 and I want to get Jeff involved here, but as 224 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.879 far as I'm concerned, there's always going to be an 225 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:16.919 element in a free country that that hates the genesis 226 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:19.240 of the country and is gonna They're going to deny 227 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.480 that that we are a country that that's founded on 228 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:27.159 Western principles and that the Judeo Christian ethic was very 229 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:32.000 much uh uh. Through all of our founding documents, they 230 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.960 will find denial there, and they'll find some comment that 231 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.360 Thomas Jefferson made in a letter to someone about separation 232 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.960 church and state, and they can go off in whatever 233 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.559 direction they want. But I think the vast majority of 234 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.799 Americans would agree with Jeff and me and probably you. 235 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:50.159 Jeff just get in here and respond to what I think. 236 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:53.960 I do think that uh, that that Steve has identified 237 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.919 an element to people who really have an animus towards 238 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.000 anything that happened before they were born. 239 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.440 To be really honesty, they go ahead. 240 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.240 Jeff No, I think see hit They hit it right 241 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.279 on the head. And coming from Cambridge, I'd refer back 242 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.080 to MI, I t when they're not when they're not 243 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.679 doing everything they can to discriminate against Jewish students, in 244 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:17.879 Jewish people in general, in supporting you know, anti Semitic 245 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:20.440 attacks on those students on campus and doing nothing to 246 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:22.600 protect them. They turn around and they say, well, we 247 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:25.639 don't recognize Columbus Day, we recognize Indigenous People Day. And 248 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.759 I say to mit, well, when do you give back 249 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.200 to the land to the tribes that owned it, and 250 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.159 maybe you can sign a lease and give them money, 251 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.919 do something of substance that will improve the quality of 252 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:40.960 life for people, because because they want to go out 253 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:44.799 and start protests like we rarely care about these people, 254 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.159 so we want to change the name of a holiday, 255 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.720 but we don't want to do anything to improve their 256 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.840 lot in life. And and so I think that goes 257 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:56.080 to there really is an underlying anger amongst a lodge group, 258 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.080 not everyone, but a lodge group of the people that 259 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:02.919 support this change. Anything that's pro American and pro American 260 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:07.000 history somehow is bad and somehow needs to be brought 261 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.399 down and destroyed. And it's really tragic. 262 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:12.720 Steve, you mentioned that I think you're referring to me 263 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:15.360 is that I might have under estimated it. My sense 264 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:20.799 is that the fervor to eliminate Columbus Day has somewhat 265 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.399 diminished in the last couple of years. 266 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.159 You don't see it that way. 267 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:27.279 Steve Dan, I really don't know. 268 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.559 I just can't. I hope it has, but I mean 269 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:34.080 when you think that the statue of Columbus was decapitated 270 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:37.639 and the city of Boston didn't do anything about that, 271 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:41.759 did not replace the statue in the North End, and 272 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:45.759 so many of our leaders and so many of the 273 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:50.480 persons who are responsible for the greatness of our nation 274 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:56.480 have been demeaned. I hope it's changing, but I don't 275 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.080 think it will. 276 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.759 Well, we'll see, by the way I think the statute, 277 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.120 correct me if I'm wrong here. 278 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.240 That was the statue that was in Christopher Columbus Park 279 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:08.200 down on the waterfront on Atlantic Avenue and the statue 280 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:11.600 was after it was decapitated, it was put for safe 281 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:15.720 keeping by then Mayor Walsh, and I believe the statue 282 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:20.480 is now in a church courtyard in the North End. 283 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.080 Am i am I If anyone knows this for sure, 284 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.639 I'd love to know. 285 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.159 Yeah, I can tell you, yes, you're you're exactly was 286 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:28.519 in Christopher Columbus Park in the North End off of 287 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:32.960 Hanover and the criminal element went damage and broke the 288 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:37.440 decapitated the statue. Rather than a statue, rather than prosecuting people, 289 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:41.200 they just said, well, we'll hide the statue. But a 290 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:45.600 brave Catholic priest at Saint Leonard's Church they have a 291 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.960 peace garden there and they put it. In fact, I 292 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:50.440 posted a picture of that statue in the peace garden 293 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.519 on Facebook today when I posted my pro Columbus message 294 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.799 talking about the history of why we celebrate Columbus Day. 295 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.799 So there are good people that have said, you know, 296 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:02.840 we're going to recognize the attributions of Columbus and Italian Americans. 297 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:06.880 And he stands proudly in the peace gotten right on 298 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.240 handle the Street in the North End where he belongs. 299 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:12.960 And Jeff, there's a there's a biography I believe of 300 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:21.160 Columbus by an historian, a Harvard historian named Samuel Elliott Morrison. 301 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:26.599 And you know, of all the navigators in the history 302 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:33.480 in history, Columbus's ability to navigate and his bravery were 303 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.480 almost unequaled. 304 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:36.839 I think. 305 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.000 By the way, there is also a statue of Samuel 306 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.319 Elliott Morrison. 307 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.759 In Boston. 308 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:43.839 There is. 309 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:46.759 It's right on that right outside of the public garden, 310 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:49.079 you know, in the middle of Commonwealth Avenue there. 311 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.039 Yeah, on that stretch between Arlington Street all the way 312 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.400 out to Massachusetts Avenue. 313 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:55.880 But there are so many things to admire about Columbus, 314 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.480 and that for these people to detegrate him is when 315 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:04.160 when they have it so easy, Uh, is really I 316 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.200 find despicable. 317 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:10.680 Yeah, absolutely, well, we we've got some support here. 318 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.039 Jeff. 319 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.200 Okay, So, uh as always the very thoughtful call to 320 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:18.079 night Side. You are one of my very best callers, 321 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.920 and you've been so for many years and I always 322 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.559 appreciate your contributions. 323 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:27.160 You're too kind, Dan, Thank you, gentlemen, good taking call. 324 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:30.920 Are going to take a quick break here. My guest 325 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:34.400 is Jeff Turco. Jeff Representative, Jeff Turco Representative. Can you 326 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.279 stay with us into the next half hour. 327 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:40.599 Of course, good you. 328 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.640 Get some more calls. 329 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:43.680 We have a couple of open lines six one seven, two, five, 330 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.640 four ten thirty or six one seven, nine three ten thirty. 331 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:54.000 We're talking about Christopher Columbus, uh celebration today and and 332 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:59.480 uh we're talking with Representative Turco, who is a leading 333 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:06.440 representative and an advocate for maintaining Columbus Day in the 334 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.039 Massachusetts legislature. And by the way, it is a state 335 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:14.680 holiday in Boston. I guess it was a stripped as 336 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.160 a state holiday. I read in the paper today that 337 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:22.240 Acting Mayor Kim Janey actually signed sort of an executive order. 338 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.559 Doesn't sound very democratic to me, but signed some sort 339 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:29.680 of an executive order ending the celebration of Columbus Day 340 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:33.599 in Boston and substituting it with Indigenous People's Day. And again, 341 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:37.680 I had no problem celebrating every group that contributed to America, 342 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:43.519 including Christopher Columbus. And Jeff Turko, the representative here who's 343 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:47.680 with us, is going to file legislation in January designating 344 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:51.680 August ninth as Indigenous People's Day. And the reason of that, Jeff, 345 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.839 Just for clarification for the audience that has just joined us. 346 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.279 There is actually justification for what you're going to do there. 347 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.480 And what is that The August. 348 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:04.400 Ninth day, August ninth is Indigenous People Day according to 349 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.880 the United Nations worldwide in August ninth, the month of 350 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.200 August is also the only month of the year that 351 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.519 Massachusetts does not have a recognized holiday. So you could 352 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:16.640 you could have recognize the contributions of Native Americans and 353 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:22.200 Indigenous people consistent with the UN calendar, but also to 354 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.799 balance all holidays across across each month. 355 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.720 Excellent, Okay, we'll take a quick break. It's nine thirty 356 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.359 the bottom of the hour. 357 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.279 Were going to get right to the newscast on time 358 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:33.559 and we'll be back with State Representative Jeff Turkle of 359 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.319 Revere and Wthrop. And if you live in either of 360 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:39.279 those communities and you'd like to talk with forty percent 361 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.319 of Revere, talk to your state representative. The only line 362 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:45.079 that's open right now, there's one line at six, one, seven, nine, three, one, 363 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:47.640 ten thirty. This is a Monday night, it is a holiday. 364 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.839 What did you celebrate today? If you celebrated Indigenous People's Day, 365 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:53.039 you're more than welcome to call and tell us what 366 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:53.400 you did. 367 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:56.079 Today we are we are. 368 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:01.599 A program that welcomes all points of view, just to 369 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:05.440 express them and be respective of my guests and other callers. 370 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:08.799 That's all we ask. Coming back on Nightside. 371 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:14.319 Night Side with Dan Ray ONBZ Boston's news radio. 372 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:18.279 We're talking with Massachusetts State Representative Jeff Turco, a Democrat 373 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:23.319 member of the state legislature. He celebrated Columbus Day today 374 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.880 and I'm sure there are a lot of other people 375 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.839 around New England who did as well, and there were 376 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:30.960 others who would prefer to have an Indigenous People's Day, 377 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:36.880 and Jeff Turkle will file legislation next January to have 378 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.640 an Indigenous People's Stay here in Massachusetts on August ninth, 379 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.880 so that both groups can have their day to celebrate 380 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.880 their heritage. I think that's a pretty smart solution to 381 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.279 a problem which has really been a problem and a 382 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:54.680 concern for several years now. But my way of thinking 383 00:21:54.720 --> 00:22:00.759 is that the level of intensity has minished. Let's go 384 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.680 to Angelo, and Angelo welcome back to Night's Side. Say 385 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:06.400 I had a state representative, Jeff Turco. Go right ahead, Angela. 386 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:09.119 How you doing, Jeff Turco, Thank you for taking my call. 387 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.440 Dain. 388 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.960 You know, I was at the parade day and they 389 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.079 were very to a lot of people that were very unhappy. 390 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:19.200 The indiscate people put up a big sign saying that 391 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:21.319 we were terrorists, and they were calling us all kinds 392 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:23.440 of names. And there was a person that was in 393 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.519 the parade and wanted to get out of their car 394 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.240 and they wanted to destroy that sign. And it was 395 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:31.720 very bad what they put down against us there. And 396 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.960 it was all so there. 397 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:38.519 Was a motorcade that was supporting Columbus Day, if I'm 398 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.839 not mistaken, that rode through a part of Newton today 399 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:44.200 and they and if I'm not mistaken, is that true? 400 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.440 Right by the album playgrounds and all around through West 401 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:51.000