
Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) has been removed from the New York City Council’s Italian Caucus after he expressed openness to renaming Columbus Day. Brannan’s suggestion to rename the holiday to Italian-American Heritage Day put him at odds with the caucus, which is committed to preserving Columbus Day.
The conflict began when Brannan first suggested the name change in 2023. In response, the Italian Caucus, led by Councilman David Carr (R-Staten Island), revised its bylaws to require members to oppose any renaming of the holiday. “We wanted to make it clear that there’s no room for negotiation on this issue,” Carr explained.
Brannan, a candidate for city comptroller, responded by reaffirming his pride in his Italian heritage but rejected what he called a “MAGA litmus test.” He argued that Italian-Americans use Columbus Day to celebrate their contributions to the nation, not just to honor Columbus himself.
Brannan’s exclusion from the recent Italian Heritage Celebration held by the City Council highlighted the divide. Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) supported Brannan’s removal, accusing him of prioritizing modern “woke” trends over preserving Italian tradition.
The Italian Caucus continues to defend Columbus Day as an important holiday for Italian-Americans, despite growing debates over its historical implications. The group remains committed to preserving the holiday in its current form.