Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has angered Native activists and Italian descendants with an e-mail that criticized Columbus Day protests and questioned the need for the Columbus Day parade.

In an e-mail to Glenn Morris of the American Indian Movement and George Vendegnia, founder of the Sons of Italy-New Generation, Hickenlooper said he was "sick and tired" of the yearly protests against the parade. He then said the city started the new Festival Italiano to "replace" the parade.

The remarks angered Morris, who called them "paternalistic," as well as Vendegnia, who said he plans to continue organizing the parade, which will take place October 8.

The city has passed new ordinances aimed at limiting parade protests but activists say they will get around them.

Get the Story:
Mayor's note heats Columbus Day spat (The Denver Post 9/29)

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

Related Stories:
Column: Columbus Day is only a parade for protesters (01/28)
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)