Pueblo group gathers to celebrate Columbus, rebuke efforts to remove Mesa Junction statue

A crowd of about 50 gathered at the Christopher Columbus monument in the Mesa Junction on Monday to celebrate Christopher Columbus Day, as keynote speakers shared their support for the polarizing Italian explorer and opposition to protests calling for the Pueblo statue’s removal or relocation.

John Carochi, the president of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy's Colorado chapter, said he would continue to fight for the monument and celebration of Columbus Day regardless of protests. He encouraged the crowd to do the same.

“We shouldn’t be attacked for believing Chris Columbus was brave,” Carochi said.

Carochi was one of seven guest speakers at the event; others included Zach Swearingen, a Republican candidate for Pueblo County Commissioner; Mark Alif, a former city councilmember; and Jeff Chostner, Pueblo’s district attorney.

Chostner said during his speech Columbus should be commended for his courage and discovery of the Americas in 1492 and subsequent voyages. He said Columbus was a “good thing” for North America and a motivator that accomplished good for the continent.

Chostner also voiced his support for the statue.

“This is not just an Italian monument, this is a Pueblo monument,” Chostner said, eliciting an applause from the crowd.

Other prominent speakers Monday included Pueblo city councilmember Regina Maestri and state Senate District 3 candidate Stephen Varela, who is running to unseat Democratic incumbent Nick Hinrichsen.

During her speech, Maestri recalled events at a protest on July 5, 2020, during which she said Columbus protesters displayed an agenda of “socialism, Marxism, communism and a great recipe for anti-American values.”

She said politicians should not be making decisions on whether to remove statues and that those decisions should be left to the people. She also said Columbus gave citizens the “opportunity to thrive in the greatest, freest nation in the world.”

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Maestri also told the crowd to stop voting for party affiliation and for friends.

“Start voting God, family, your values and country,” Maestri said.

Varela followed Maestri and said Columbus reminds him of the “pursuit of happiness and the American dream.”

He echoed Maestri's sentiments and implored the crowd to vote for values, faith, family and country to lessen taxes and enhance individual freedoms. He said Pueblo County has been run by a one-party system for more than 80 years and that it has been robbed of economic development and community reinvestment — the latter, he said, also reminds him of Columbus.

The event closed with comments from Rafael Ortiz, a Puerto Rican author who wrote “Christopher Columbus The Hero: Defending Columbus.” Ortiz pre-recorded his speech, a video of which was shown to the crowd.

Ortiz blogs about Columbus on his website and has a YouTube page where he debunks claims against Columbus and his actions. He claimed people who protest Columbus Day want to conquer the holiday and American history through propaganda and misinformation.

The event was considerably different than last year when Rep. Lauren Boebert was invited to speak but reverted to campaign messaging in her remarks and didn’t discuss Italian Americans or Columbus.

“This year’s celebration on all fronts was a 10,” said Jerry Carleo, who works closely with the Sons of Italy board and lodge and is the chairman of the Colorado Italian American Foundation. “We had a wonderful crowd and not a whole lot of disrespect. I have to give (protesters at the event) credit.”

Next to fencing surrounding the event, there was one protestor during the 40-minute event who held a sign that read “Take It Down.” A few more surfaced following the event’s conclusion, with one telling Columbus supporters to “remember the lost and indigenous women.”

Another protestor told supporters “one down, one more to go,” — a reference to the state’s decision in 2020 to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Cabrini Day and protestors’ desire to remove the Columbus statue from the middle of Abriendo Avenue.

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Tomas Martinez Ortega, the chairman for El Movimiento Sigue, said because the state no longer recognizes Columbus Day there was no reason to protest Monday, which is why there wasn't much of a presence by protesters this year.

"At that point, it's just protesting (Columbus supporters)," Martinez Ortega said. "We're not protesting people."

Pueblo activists told the Chieftain earlier this month they plan to continue to protest Columbus and the statue and may present Pueblo City Council with a formal resolution to remove and relocate it later this year.

Hundreds of communities across the nation recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day, which is also celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo group gathers for Columbus, rebukes efforts to remove statue