Janey Swaps Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in Boston

BOSTON — In a historic turn of events for the City of Boston Wednesday, acting Mayor Kim Janey signs an executive order deeming Columbus Day now Indigenous Peoples Day.

Towns and cities throughout the Commonwealth have opted for this change for quite some time. Last year, Newton joined the likes of Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, and Amherst, which have all exchanged Columbus Day for Indigenous People's Day in recent years.

"While our history is recognized as a point of pride, it is a complicated history that history includes displacement and oppression of indigenous peoples, who lived here for thousands of years," Janey said.

Columbus Day celebrations date back to the 18th century in some places, according to the History Channel, but did not become a federal holiday for celebration on the second Monday of October until 1971. The day continues to be listed by the federal government as Columbus Day.

Columbus Day is a state holiday, so Bostonians will still be observing the holiday as Massachusetts residents, as they have in the past.

Read More On Patch:

• Columbus Day Or Indigenous Peoples Day: What Newton Celebrates
• Newton Votes To Change Columbus Day To Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Columbus Day Or Indigenous Peoples Day: What Brookline Celebrates