Oct 10, 2025 - News
Mass lynching in New Orleans led to creation of Columbus Day
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Columbus Day is the federal holiday on Monday, but what the state holiday is called — Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day or something else — depends on where you live.
The big picture: Louisiana's state laws proclaim Monday as Columbus Day. However, it's not a holiday with paid time off for workers.
- It's up to each municipality. Kenner says it is closing administrative offices Monday for Columbus Day.
- New Orleans City Hall will be closed for Indigenous Peoples Day, the official calendar says.
- A Jefferson Parish spokesperson says their offices will remain open.
Catch up quick: A mass lynching of Italians in New Orleans in 1891 led to President Benjamin Harrison creating Columbus Day in hopes of repairing international relations.
- Eleven Italian-American immigrants were killed downtown in what remains one of the country's largest single lynchings.
- Italy cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S in the aftermath and there was talk of war, according to the Washington Post.
- Since the early 1990s, Native American advocates have been pushing to get states to swap Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day. Go deeper.