Vermont passes bill abolishing Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

For three years, the state of Vermont has been celebrating the second Monday of October, traditionally and federally labeled as Columbus Day, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Vermont’s former governor, a Democrat, signed a proclamation rebranding the holiday in 2016. The state’s current governor, Republican Phil Scott, has continued the tradition.

Now, the state is one signature away from abolishing Columbus Day altogether and permanently recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day — a trend gaining traction in states nationwide as Americans reckon with the colonization and harm intertwined with Christopher Columbus’s legacy.

Last week, the Vermont legislature passed a bill that “will aid in the cultural development of Vermont’s recognized tribes, while enabling all indigenous peoples in Vermont and elsewhere to move forward and formulate positive outcomes, from the history of colonization.”