Salt Lake City Council has officially declared the second Monday of October, also known as Columbus Day, as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Council Chair Stan Penfold said the city encourages residents and businesses to celebrate the new holiday on Monday, Oct 9.
“Celebrating the two holidays the same day is a way to inform our understanding of each contributions to our national fabric without demeaning the significance of either," Penfold said.
Council member Charlie Luke said the city has a responsibility to oppose “the systematic discrimination toward indigenous people in the U.S.”
The Italian-American Civil League was strongly opposed to the move. In a letter, the league said it was an affront to their culture and “degrading and demeaning” to all Italian-Americans.
The resolution was approved unanimously by the council.