Kat, I have to agree with LEF's title to this thread, ie Fiasco. I think it's been a fiasco for years. I'm just glad nobody got hurt. Now I have no Native American or Italian blood, that I know of. But I think the Parade organizers left the protesters with no choice except to protest after they reneged on the mediated agreement to drop the Columbus reference.
From what I've read, though, the parade organizers acted too hastily in that agreement, and had Hell to pay in the Italian community, hence their reversal.

I see both sides. I lived a long time in and near Northwest Denver, which still maintains a strong Italian presence, though not like it used to be. Gaetano's, Valenti's etc, the restaurants are still thriving. I think understand Italian Pride.

I'm not sure Columbus is the best choice to celebrate, however. He did bring unwanted violence and disease to the Carribean. And if you believe the papers, he was considered to be a failure in his own time, as he did not return from his three or four voyages with the ship filled with gold, as hoped. He died in obscurity.

For me, the ultimate irony of it all: I got a nice fat check on Saturday. All atwitter, I drove 60 miles to my bank on Monday, only to discover it was closed for Columbus Day! Expletives deleted, BlueJay