Toms River, which has a large Italian American population, is the latest town in New Jersey where people are pushing back against a movement to end Columbus Day celebrations. The Board of Education got an earful Wednesday night after voting earlier this month to eliminate Columbus Day as a holiday for students, to help shorten the academic year. Critics argue the decision is an attack on history and heritage.
“You sent the message that Columbus Day is out in the Toms River schools. That’s really unfortunate because you’ve given ammunition to the nationwide attack that’s going on right now to Columbus Day, and to our heritage,” said Andre DiMino, communications director with the Italian American One Voice Coalition.
“We have Martin Luther King day for African Americans. We have religious holidays for our Jewish friends, and we have Columbus Day for Italian Americans. Diversity is very, very important in the school system. By removing Columbus Day from Italians, you’re telling all of the students here that it’s diminished, it doesn’t mean anything, whether you intended to or not,” said Frank Lorenzo, a Toms River resident.
