Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Public letter to: US. Senate, US. Congress, First Lady Clinton, Pat Buchanan

This letter is in response to the Columbus Day parade in Denver Colorado Oct. 7th, 2000. As founder of United Native America, I was the last person of 147 people arrested that day. I was arrested for disobeying an order from a police officer to leave the street. The City of Denver could have pulled the parade permit but choose not to.

During our protest of this parade which included women and children, the City of Denver had Swat Team shooters on roof tops all around us. There was Secrete Service, FBI, State Police, City Police and other law enforcement agencies surrounding us. These law agencies allowed known supporters of the parade to freely come in around us, thus setting up the high possibility that their would be violence.

Members of AIM security were spit on by the Denver police. As the promoters of the demonstration promised there would be no violence, it is obvious the law enforcement allowed every opportunity for it to happen. It is because of our nonviolent approach to this issue there was not injuries, blood or death exercising our right to demonstrate against the Columbus Day parade.

There are seventeen states that do not recognize Columbus Day and the state of South Dakota has changed Columbus Day to Native American Day. Colorado is one of those states that does not recognize this holiday. There is at this time a state of emergency through out America for the continuation of the Federal Government to proclaim Columbus Day as a federal holiday.

The American people and the states are sending the Federal Government a strong message to drop this holiday as a tax paid holiday for a man in his own writings committed genocide against the Indian race. Tens of thousands of Americans have signed a petition calling on the Federal Government to drop this holiday.

American Indian men and women serving in the armed forces of this country are forced to celebrate this inhuman holiday. Columbus Day is the most uncelebrated holiday in this country. There is not one federal holiday that pays tribute to the countless contributions the American Indians have given to the formation of this country. Columbus never set foot on this land, nor was he a citizen of this country.

It is by pure luck that parade supporters did not cause trouble allowing law enforcement to open fire on the demonstrators. America is demanding that the Federal Government declassify Columbus Day to a non federal holiday, and establish a federal holiday recognizing Native Americans. Tribal Nations across the country support this issue.

Our resolution calls for Columbus Day to be moved back to its traditional day the second Wednesday of October and not be a tax paid holiday and make the second Monday of October a federal tax paid holiday for Native Americans. The Federal Government can no longer turn its back on the true history of Columbus.

The Federal Government can no longer ignore the fact that there should be a national holiday paying tribute to the Native Americans of this country. No one in their right mind can make the promise that there will not be blood our loss of life in the future if the Federal Government continues to state sponsor a national holiday for a man who is the equal of Hitler.

Our children in schools today are being taught that Columbus is a hero. Teachers cannot allow the children to read books of Columbus's writings on what he did to the Indian people. America is asking the Italian community to celebrate their heritage not the man Columbus. The vast majority of American people are demanding that you as our elected representatives take all necessary action to end the federal recognition of Columbus Day.

The first lady of this country, Mrs. Clinton chose to join in the celebration of Columbus Day in New York City while running for office in the state of New York. She did this without respect for the Native American community in this country, knowing the true history of Columbus.

Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan issued a press release calling the demonstrators of the Columbus Day parade in Denver, Colorado an intolerant, militant left-wing group to include the words cultural Marxism. Pat Buchanan should be used as the poster boy for Americas educational system not working as it should. It is obvious that Pat Buchanan has not been in a library to read Columbus's own words of his untrue heroism. As our elected representatives you can see that there are those among you that support Columbus Day and you can read their hate words to maintain this holiday. America hopes that you choose to use true wisdom and look at the facts concerning Columbus rating a federal tax paid holiday in this country. The Native American community is no longer asking that this holiday be removed, America is demanding it.

Americans of all ethnic groups participated in the demonstration against the Columbus Day parade. We are not intolerant, militant left-wing radicals or extremist. We are Americans standing up for what is right. We have served our country in time of need, we are fathers, mothers and grand parents to children of this country and we are registered voters. We need not tell you how this country came about with civil disobedience and then war to win its independence. It is totally inappropriate for people running for elected office in this country to use such inflammatory language and to participate in a parade celebrating a mass murderer, let alone being state sponsored. My question to Mr. Buchanan and Mrs. Clinton is, would they join with the KKK and other groups celebrating Hitler just to get elected to office? The German community in America celebrates their heritage with "Octoberfest" not the man Hitler. As our elected leaders you have it within your powers to correct this holiday being federally supported, if you choose not to, the American people will continue peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience toward this holiday and if loss of life is the out come, this will rest solely on the shoulders of our elected representatives. Enough lives and families have been destroyed because of the man Columbus, the world does not see him as a hero nor should the America's. You should note, two years ago in Pueblo, Colorado a demonstrator was attacked by a Columbus supporter an inflicted two broken ribs on the man, the DA's office to this day has not filed charges on this person. Protesters that threw red colored water balloons on the street in front of the parade are still facing felony charges from that demonstration. First lady Clinton and Pat Buchanan owe the American people a public apology.

Kimberly Teehee of the Congressional Indian Caucus in Washington DC. 202-225-3611 is drafting a bill to take before congress calling for a national holiday for Native Americans. The American people strongly urge you to contact her and offer her your support in bringing this bill forward.