Brooklyn Democrat Justin Brannan has been removed from the City Council’s Italian Caucus after refusing to fully support Columbus Day as a national holiday. Brannan’s suggestion that the day could be renamed Italian-American Heritage Day caused friction within the predominantly conservative caucus.
David Carr (R-Staten Island), the chair of the caucus, explained that Brannan’s stance violated the group’s bylaws, which were updated to require full support of Columbus Day. “We wanted to make it clear that there’s no room for negotiation on this issue,” Carr said.
Brannan, who is running for comptroller in next year’s election, responded by saying his Italian heritage is not defined by any “MAGA litmus test.” He has consistently argued that the holiday should honor Italian contributions rather than Columbus himself, adding that Indigenous peoples deserve their own separate holiday.
Brannan’s exclusion from the City Council’s Italian Heritage Celebration this year was a clear signal of his falling out with the caucus. Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) supported the decision, stating that Brannan should focus on preserving Italian culture rather than embracing modern “woke” trends.
The caucus remains firm in its position that Columbus Day should be retained, a stance that Brannan’s views clearly conflict with.
