In the current debates about Columbus Day, the conversation tends to focus on one of two things: the controversial figure of Christopher Columbus and his role in colonization, or the push to replace the holiday with Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognize the suffering of Native Americans. What often gets lost in this discourse is the true origin of Columbus Day in the United States—a holiday that wasn’t just about Columbus, but about the blood of innocent men shed in one of the most shameful chapters of American history.
What if I told you that Columbus Day was established in response to the largest mass lynching in U.S. history?
That tragic event took place in New Orleans in 1891 when 11 Italian immigrants were brutally murdered by an enraged mob. This violence was fueled by a wave of anti-Italian sentiment, which saw immigrants from Southern Europe as inferior, dangerous, and unworthy of full citizenship. The massacre was so significant that it nearly led to an international conflict between the United States and Italy.
In the aftermath, President Benjamin Harrison sought to smooth over relations by establishing a national holiday that would honor the contributions of Italian-Americans. This gesture became Columbus Day, and yet, the bloodshed that brought about its creation is rarely remembered.
As we reexamine the meaning of Columbus Day today, it’s essential to understand that this holiday was paid for in the blood of Italian immigrants who suffered discrimination and violence. This article will uncover the forgotten history of the 1891 lynching, the origins of Columbus Day, and why we must keep this legacy alive.
The Mass Lynching of 1891
New Orleans, 1891: a city rife with tensions as immigrant communities vied for economic footholds in a rapidly changing world. Among those immigrant groups were Italians, who had begun arriving in large numbers during the late 19th century. Despite their efforts to establish themselves, Italians were often met with hostility. They were perceived as racially inferior, as a people who clung to their own ways, and, worse, were suspected of being involved in organized crime—the Mafia.
This underlying tension came to a head when New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy was gunned down in October 1890. Hennessy’s dying words were reported to be, “The Dagoes shot me,” using a derogatory term for Italians. His murder shocked the city, and the authorities quickly pointed the finger at the Italian community, rounding up over 100 men on suspicion of being part of the Mafia.
The Trial and Acquittal: When the trial commenced, the evidence against the Italian suspects was flimsy. Many of the accusations were based on rumors of Mafia connections rather than solid proof. Nonetheless, the trial went forward, and tensions rose as the city watched for the verdict. In March 1891, several of the men were acquitted due to lack of evidence, and a mistrial was declared for others.
The acquittal was a spark that ignited a firestorm. The people of New Orleans were enraged, convinced that the Italian men had escaped justice through bribery or Mafia influence. The local press fanned the flames, calling for action against the Italians.
The Mob’s Action: On March 14, 1891, a mob of over 100 men stormed the Parish Prison where the Italian men were being held. They dragged 11 men out of their cells and brutally lynched them, either hanging them or shooting them to death in cold blood.
Here are the names of the 11 men who were killed that day:
1. Antonio Bagnetto
2. James Caruso (Giuseppe Caruso)
3. Loreto Comites
4. Rocco Geraci
5. Joseph Macheca
6. Antonio Marchesi
7. Charles Matranga
8. Pietro Monasterio
9. Antonio Scaffidi
10. Frank Romero (Francesco Romero)
11. Manuel Polizzi
These men were largely scapegoats, their guilt or innocence irrelevant to the mob that sought to restore its sense of justice by inflicting unspeakable violence. The largest mass lynching in U.S. history had taken place, and the message was clear: Italians were not welcome, and their lives were expendable in the face of public outrage.
Aftermath of the Lynching
The lynching of these 11 men sparked international outrage, particularly in Italy. The Italian government demanded justice and reparations for the families of the victims. Italy even recalled its ambassador from the United States and considered severing diplomatic relations entirely. There was real concern that the situation could escalate into a conflict between the two nations.
The U.S. was in a difficult position. On the one hand, the American public largely sympathized with the actions of the mob. The press framed the lynching as a defense of American law and order against the corrupting influence of the Mafia. On the other hand, the federal government was deeply concerned about the potential diplomatic consequences of allowing such an atrocity to go unpunished.
Reparations and Apologies: Eventually, after negotiations, the U.S. agreed to pay $25,000 in reparations to the families of the lynched men. While this payment helped to smooth over relations between the two countries, no one was ever held accountable for the murders. The mob, composed of prominent citizens, politicians, and businessmen, was never brought to justice.
The Creation of Columbus Day
In 1892, as part of the effort to restore good relations with Italy and to acknowledge the growing Italian-American community, President Benjamin Harrison declared a national celebration of Columbus Day on the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. This was meant as a gesture of goodwill toward Italian-Americans, recognizing their contributions to the country at a time when they were still facing widespread discrimination.
Why Columbus? For Italian-Americans, Columbus was a symbol of their heritage, a reminder that Italians had played a pivotal role in the “discovery” of the New World. The choice of Columbus allowed the holiday to both honor Italian-Americans and fit within the broader narrative of American history.
The celebration of Columbus Day became a way to acknowledge the Italian community’s role in shaping America. Italian immigrants were being given a place in the national story, and the holiday was meant to show that they were not only welcome in America but that they belonged.
Columbus Day’s Evolution
As the decades passed, Columbus Day evolved from its roots as a way to heal the wounds of the Italian-American community to a broader celebration of Columbus as a heroic explorer. For many, Columbus Day became synonymous with the spirit of discovery and the expansion of Western civilization.
However, this heroic narrative of Columbus has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Modern historians have documented the atrocities committed by Columbus and his men during their voyages, including the enslavement, exploitation, and violence against Indigenous peoples.
As a result, there has been a growing movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, shifting the focus from celebrating European colonization to honoring the cultures and histories of Native Americans.
Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The debate over Columbus Day versus Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a complex one. On the one hand, the push to honor Indigenous peoples and recognize the devastation caused by colonization is long overdue. Native American communities have been calling for acknowledgment of their suffering for decades, and many feel that Columbus Day perpetuates a glorified version of history that ignores the darker aspects of colonization.
On the other hand, for Italian-Americans, Columbus Day represents something much deeper. It’s not just about Columbus himself—it’s about a holiday born from the blood of 11 men who were murdered in 1891. For many Italian-Americans, the day is a symbol of their ancestors’ struggles for acceptance in a country that was hostile to them.
Why We Must Remember the Origins
In the current conversation about Columbus Day, it’s easy to lose sight of the history that gave birth to this holiday. The 1891 lynching of Italian immigrants should be central to any discussion about the holiday, because it represents a time when Italian-Americans were the victims of racial hatred and violence. To erase Columbus Day without acknowledging its origins is to erase a crucial part of Italian-American history.
We can have a separate day to honor Indigenous peoples without taking away the significance of Columbus Day for the Italian-American community. Both groups have suffered in different ways, and both deserve recognition.
Conclusion
The origins of Columbus Day are steeped in blood—the blood of 11 innocent Italian immigrants who were lynched because of anti-Italian sentiment in 1891. This holiday, created as a gesture to heal the wounds of a community that had been brutally attacked, should not be dismissed or erased.
As we move forward, it’s crucial to remember why Columbus Day exists in the first place. It is a day that honors the Italian-American experience, the struggles of a people who faced violence and discrimination and who fought to be recognized as part of the American fabric. At the same time, we can create space to honor Indigenous peoples and their history, without rewriting or erasing the contributions and sacrifices of others.
Columbus Day is a legacy paid for in blood, and that legacy deserves to be remembered.
