Demonstrators took to the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh on Monday morning to protest the celebration of Columbus Day and the lack of representation of indigenous people in America.
Racism was another issue represented during the rally, with several signs honoring the lives of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Leon Ford.
Participants gathered at Point State Park at 11 a.m. and marched down Liberty Avenue, finally gathering in front of the now empty August Wilson Center. The protest was organized by Pittsburgh for Justice and led by Julia Johnson.
Marchers heard from several speakers, including Miguel Sague, a local Native American activist.
According to Johnnson, the goal of the march was to first raise awareness of the true history of Columbus and what he represents, and to show the number of people petitioning to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’s Day in Pittsburgh.
