Carolyn Chen is an associate professor in the ethnic studies department at the University of California, Berkeley, whose research interests include religion, ethnicity, immigration and sociology of work.

Dona De Sanctis resigned in 2007 from deputy executive director of the Order Sons of Italy in America, which does not support changing the name of the federal holiday. She is editor-in-chief of Italian America magazine and researches Italian American history and achievements.

Bernard McGinn is Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology and of the History of Christianity in the Divinity School and the Committees on Medieval Studies and on General Studies. Read his thoughts about how Columbus was on an apocalyptic mission, from the PBS show Frontline.

The Indigenous Peoples Day Committee is based in Berkeley, Calif. Contact committee coordinator Rochelle Hays.

Suzan Shown Harjo, who is Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, is president of the Morning Star Institute, a national Indian rights organization. She helps Native Americans regain the land that was taken from them, and preserved many sacred places.

Glenn T. Morris, who is Shawnee, is associate professor of political science at the University of Colorado, Denver, where he is executive director of the Fourth World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and Politics. He is also a member of the Leadership Council of the American Indian Movement of Colorado, which annually protests the Columbus […]

The Rev. Harry Knox is president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a national community of religious and spiritual people, denominations and organizations from all faith traditions dedicated to achieving reproductive justice. The coalition includes initiatives directed at African-American and Hispanic congregations. Knox was previously a member of the religion council of […]

Read an Oct. 10, 2005, Democracy Now transcript about activism for Indigenous Peoples Day.

The National Council of Churches adopted a resolution called “A Faithful Response” in 1990 calling the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ first landing and “the painful aspects of the American history of racism.”