Basil Russo, Italian Sons and Daughters of America national president, said the history of Columbus Day in America was born out of tragedy for Italian immigrants.
"The bias and prejudice was highlighted in 1861 when the largest mass lynching in America occurred in New Orleans when they lynched 11 Italian immigrants," Russo told KDKA Radio.
He said the promotion of Columbus Day as well as the creation and erection of Columbus statues was a response to that to try to create a sense of self worth.
Due to controversy surrounding Columbus' treatment of indigenous people, cities around the country are removing statues and choosing the celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.
In Pittsburgh, Mayor Bill Peduto announced on Friday that he and the City Art Commission are in agreement with the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Schenley Park.
"The mayor's decision to allow himself to be intimidated by a certain revisionist groups that want to rewrite American history in order to have it conform to their own misguided social and political agendas is a very tragic situation," said Russo.
"Back in the 1920's, it was the Ku Klux Klan that was attempting destroy Columbus Day and Columbus statues throughout the country because of their animosity toward Catholics and toward immigrants," explained Russo. "I just find it so tragic that here we are, a hundred years later and we have other radical groups trying to do the same thing - trying to erase American history and erase Columbus' legacy and reputation because they have their own misguided agenda that they want to promote."
Russo said his organization promotes the creation of Indigenous Peoples' Day and advocates keeping both holidays on the calendar so Americans can learn about the history of both and honor both in different ways.
"Every group in our country has contributed something meaningful to the country that they can rightfully be proud of. And every group ought to be able to celebrate that," said Russo. "But you don't do it by pitting groups against one another and creating confrontation. Thot does not bode well for us as a people or our country. We need to be better than that. We need to respect one another and we need to support one another.
"And that is not the approach that those that are opposed to Columbus Day and Columbus statues choose to take. They want confrontation and in many, many cities, we've seen them resort to violence and, certainly, that should not be tolerated."