Under the auspices of C.I.A.O. Bay Area—the Coalition of Italian American Organizations—a protest will be held today, January 30, 2018 at 1:00 at City Hall. The protest is in reaction to last week's action by Supervisor Malia Cohen, who, in an apparent back-room deal, rammed through legislation that would change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Neither the Italian Community nor the Muwekma Ohlone—the Indigenous People of the present day San Francisco—were consulted before a vote was taken. The 10-1 vote was passed without public comment or input from the stakeholders. This secretive and exclusive maneuver was in clear violation of San Francisco's established policy of transparency and open government.

Though outraged by the lack of openness and transparency, the Italian Community is not demanding a reversal of this decision, but rather that the Board of Supervisors table the second vote until the Italian Community, the Muwekma Ohlone tribe, and other stakeholders can be given an opportunity to voice their respective opinions on the matter.

All those who deplore the secretive manner in which the Board of Supervisors acted are invited to join the protest.

For further information, please contact: Nickolas Marinelli - C.I.A.O. Bay Area. Telephone: 650-466-0007. Email: Nickolas@SFIAC.club