Venice Sparks Indigenous Peoples Day Movement in Los Angeles

Venice Supports Indigenous People’s Day in Los Angeles— but will Mike Bonin?

Venice, CA— On September 15, 2015, the Venice Neighborhood Council unanimously passed a motion authored by Mike Bravo asking the Venice community to support an Indigenous Peoples’ Day as well as calling for the City of Los Angeles to formally adopt the holiday in place of Columbus Day.

Perhaps inspired by the viral popularity and supportive response to Venice’s call for the holiday, two months later, in November, councilman O’Farrell announces that he wants to make Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Los Angeles a reality, and now it is finally ready for serious consideration by the Los Angeles City Council.

But will Mike Bonin support it?

Mike Bonin’s Unfavorable Spotlight

Mike Bonin currently has an unfavorable political spotlight, being caught up in at least two lawsuits (that we know of). He is included in a lawsuit by San Fernando Valley residents alleging unlawful city council voting, as well as a lawsuit by Venice residents in his own district.

Given Bonin’s image of being unsupportive to Native Americans, “Latinos”, African Americans, and low-income residents of all ethnicities on the Westside, his support for Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Los Angeles could prove to be a smart step toward regaining some trust with his constituents.

Perhaps this may be a factor in why Mitch O’Farrell is pushing the motion? O’Farrell has become quite unpopular with many Native, African American, and low-income residents in Los Angeles due to his support of the false-pretended Echo Park “gang” injunction, his opposition to street vendors, and being perceived as an enabler of hyper-gentrification— all issues that ironically adversely affect many Indigenous people in Los Angeles.

“That was the intention of the motion we made. I support it. I just hope the city honors the restorative justice sentiment of the holiday and rescinds Columbus Day.”

– Mike Bravo, Venice Neighborhood Council and author of Indigenous People’s Day Motion

“People need to remember whose land they are on and show some real respect. Columbus was a murderer; the holiday is a step in a good direction. I have my opinions about the motion that’s going before the (Los Angeles) city council, but I am very happy it’s getting the attention it deserves,” says Mike Bravo, the Venice Neighborhood Council member who first created the popular motion in Venice, “that was the intention of the motion we made. I support it. I just hope the city honors the restorative justice sentiment of the holiday and rescinds Columbus Day.”

Venice Already Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On October 11th, 2015, our community celebrated its first Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration on our boardwalk. Save Venice is proud to support Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Los Angeles and encourages all Los Angeles City residents to contact your councilperson and ask them to rescind Columbus Day and support Indigenous Peoples’ Day for Los Angeles