Bronx Celebrates Columbus Day

Crowd Gives Bronx Cheer to Pols Looking to Change Columbus Day

The 45th Annual Bronx Columbus Day Parade kicked off at White Plains Road and Morris Park Avenue.--Photo by David Greene

By David Greene

BRONX - Despite a continued decline in attendees, hundreds of marchers, band members and local officials participated in the 45th Annual Bronx Columbus Day Parade, through Morris Park on October 9.

Enjoying the unseasonably mild temperatures, "Gino," formerly a 15-year resident of Morris Park, still returns every year for the parade. He told the Bronx Voice what he loved most about it, he explained, "The atmosphere and the crowd."

Meanwhile, wearing an American flag hoodie and a cap designed as an Italian flag, 78-year Morris Park resident Antionette Penta claimed she has never missed a parade, and added, "Many men dedicated their lives to the parade over the years." Penta said of the dwindling crowd size, "It was much bigger, but now there's not that many people around anymore."

Setting her sights on local elected officials, Penta fired away, saying, "They destroyed our community. All of them, all around us... they're all crooks."

When Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez' name came up, Penta replied, "I told her to go away, I told her to go home." Asked about Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, Penta fumed, "Forget about it, we haven't seen her in two years, they only come around for elections and they destroy everything around us." Penta was asked why doesn't she just move, when she smiled and replied, "I'm a Morris Park girl."

At the end of the parade on Williamsbridge Road, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson told the crowd, "This is an opportunity to come together to recognize the incredible contribution of the Italian-American community here in the Bronx." Gibson added, "All of the children and scholars you see here, can make sure they look at all of us... they see the same opportunities we have truly been afforded." 

Cheerleaders from Cardinal Spellman High School entertain the crowd during the 45th Annual Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park.--Photo by David Greene

Gibson noted that her office was hosting an Italian Heritage event at Bronx Borough Hall on October 13, recognizing Bronx' Italian-American "community leaders."

Apparently speaking to new legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly, that would replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, U.S. Representative and Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, stated, "Columbus Day today, Columbus day in the past, Columbus Day always in the future, we will make sure that Columbus Day lives on forever."