Native American organizers are spending Columbus Day spreading awareness of a campaign to support legislation in Baltimore to change the name of the holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day.
Dozens of Native descendants and supporters met Monday at the Baltimore American Indian Center, where leaders shared information about the campaign.
Last year the Baltimore City Council introduced legislation to change the holiday's name but the bill did not pass. Organizers say a new petition has been started through social media.
"We want to be able to bring it to the senate, bring it to the legislature, bring it Congress, bring it anywhere we can to see what we can do about making this official," said organizer Christine Duckworth.
Supporters claim Christopher Columbus was a killer, took slaves and never even discovered America.
"To me it's just white washing Native Americans out all together, because you're honoring someone that destroyed a lot of Native people," said Jeanette Walker-Jones, who attended the meeting.
Since 1992, over 60 cities and states have changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
