"The ironic truth about Denver�s October ritual is that if not for the protesters � those who will be arrested and those of us watching the shindig curbside - no one would see the parade at all.

Nobody comes to this parade but the protesters, quite possibly because the thing is a bust. The parade, which lasts for all of ten or 15 minutes, features men and women in cars � nothing flashy � and quite a few on motorcycles (these are the ones most likely to greet curbside protesters with the one-finger salute, while revving their engines for emphasis).

Teenagers on a few flat-bed trucks throw candy at the protesting spectators (a bit too energetically, thank you very much. Last year I almost lost an eye to a grape-flavored Jolly Rancher).

There are Italian Americans participating in the parade and in the protests.

I�m not anti-Italian. I�m anti-Columbus.

I�m also perfectly willing to acknowledge that Columbus was an adventurous and courageous explorer. Unfortunately, he was also a brutal enslaver and greedy exploiter of human and natural resources."

Get the Story:
Dani Newsum: Denver's Columbus Day -- exposed! (The Denver Post 1/27)

Relevant Links:
Transform Columbus Day - http://www.transformcolumbusday.org

Related Stories:
Column: Columbus Day protesters overreacting (1/27)
Editorial: Law should protect Columbus Day parade (1/26)
Columbus Day parade likened to cross-burning (1/26)
Denver forced to end Columbus Day protest cases (1/25)
Column: Columbus Day parade is not 'hate speech' (1/25)
Denver won't drop case against Columbus protesters (1/24)
Columbus Day protesters acquitted in Denver (1/21)
Natives changing perspective on 'Indian' holidays (11/10)
Opinion: Be proud of Wal-Mart, and Columbus too (10/15)
Letter: Indians better off thanks to Columbus (10/14)
Native students don't celebrate Columbus Day (10/12)
Column: Columbus ignored as Natives persevere (10/11)
Editorial: It's that time of the year (Columbus Day) (10/08)
Column: It's wrong to compare Columbus to Hitler (10/07)
Columbus Day protesters seek day in court(1/14)
Were terrorists plotting on Columbus Day? (10/17)
Columbus Day not a celebration for all (10/15)
Letters: Columbus Day marches and more (10/15)
Another year, another Columbus Day (10/14)
You can't stop the Italians! (10/11)
It's Columbus Day, Be nice to the Italians! (10/10)
Editorial: Be nice to the Italians (10/9)
Another year, Another Columbus Day (10/7)
Columbus Day events given permits (7/17)
Cost of Columbus Day topping $100,000 (10/9)
Italians to boycott Columbus Day (9/19)
Columbus Day started in Colorado (9/10)
'Columbus' may be dropped from parade (8/29)
Event is not Columbus protest, says group (7/17)
Columbus Day battle brews (7/12)
Italians celebrate Columbus Day early (7/11)
Group awarded Columbus Day permit (7/10)
Peaceful protest greets parade (10/9)