Brooklyn Democrat Justin Brannan has been removed from the New York City Council’s Italian Caucus following his refusal to fully support Columbus Day as a national holiday. Brannan, who is running for city comptroller in 2025, expressed openness to renaming the holiday to Italian-American Heritage Day, which clashed with the predominantly conservative caucus.
The tension began in October 2023 when Brannan first suggested that Columbus Day could be renamed to better reflect the contributions of Italian-Americans. This suggestion led the Italian Caucus, chaired by Councilman David Carr (R-Staten Island), to revise its bylaws. Carr explained that the group wanted to ensure that all members were committed to preserving the holiday as it is. “There’s no room for negotiation on this issue,” Carr said.
Brannan responded to his ousting by reaffirming his pride in his Italian heritage, stating, “No MAGA litmus test will change that.” He emphasized that most Italian-Americans celebrate the holiday to honor their community’s contributions, not Columbus himself.
Brannan’s removal was highlighted when he was excluded from the City Council’s Italian Heritage Celebration. Other members, including Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens), supported the decision. Holden argued that Brannan’s stance was too focused on “presentism” and criticized him for diluting Italian heritage with “woke” ideas.
The Italian Caucus remains firm in its defense of Columbus Day, viewing it as a significant celebration of Italian-American history. Despite Brannan’s removal, the caucus continues to oppose any efforts to rename the holiday.
