JACKSON, NJ – A Jackson Township councilman is celebrating the federal government’s decision to once again recognize Columbus Day, following President Trump’s move to restore the holiday’s name after several years of it being officially observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
He also noted that October is Italian-American Heritage Month.
Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri, an Italian American, said the change honors the heritage of many New Jersey residents with roots tracing back to Italy.
“We cannot erase history,” Palmeri said in a statement. “Columbus Day is an important day for Italian Americans. Thank you, Mr. President, for returning our holiday that was stripped from us by the last administration.”
Local support for cultural recognition
Palmeri’s remarks reflect a sentiment shared among several Italian American organizations in Ocean County and across the state, where Columbus Day parades and community events have long been a tradition. Supporters of the name’s restoration view it as an acknowledgment of cultural pride and immigrant contributions to the United States.
Palmeri said the renewed designation offers an opportunity for unity rather than division, adding that recognizing history “does not mean ignoring anyone else’s.”
For many in New Jersey’s Italian American community, this year’s holiday will carry added meaning — and a sense that tradition, at least for now, has returned.