The Columbus Day Parade in Denver, Colorado, will go on as planned, organizers said in response to a fake email that claimed the controversial event was canceled due to lack of funds.

Sons of Italy President Richard SaBell said he felt "violated" that someone sent an email with his name to the media. "This whole thing is bogus. The parade was never off," he told the Associated Press.

The parade takes place on Saturday. In the past, Indian activists have held protests and counter-demonstrations.

Colorado was the first state to make Columbus Day an official holiday. In Eagle County, it's called "Discovery Day" for reasons no one seems to know.

"Calling it 'Discovery Day' just makes things worse," activist Suzan Shown Harjo told The Denver Post. "We weren't discovered. Columbus was lost. He did lurch upon our shores, but he thought he was in India."

Get the Story:
Denver Columbus Day parade is on, despite hoax (AP 10/9)
Culture Clash Day may be pithier, but emotions run high on keeping it Columbus Day (The Denver Post 10/9)