Columbus intimidates Indians?

Defense attorney for three parade protesters compares Columbus to HitlerDefense lawyers argued Wednesday that Columbus Day protesters had a right to block a Denver parade because it celebrated a man whom American Indians view as a slave trader, murderer and rapist.

"Are you aware that to some Native Americans, celebrating Columbus is the same as celebrating Hitler to Jews?" attorney David Lane asked prospective jurors during the first in a series of trials for more than 80 people arrested in the Oct. 6 protest.

Denver police made the arrests in an annual ritual in which opponents try to block the parade.

Lane argued that the parade is a form of "ethnic intimidation," similar to burning a cross on a black family's lawn.Comment:  I hope the defendants have a better argument than this up their sleeves.

One could claim almost anything is meant to intimidate someone. For instance, Jews could claim a cross on a church intimidates them, because it reminds them of past pogroms. But in a multicultural society, they don't get to make that claim. They have to accept that others viewed the cross differently.

The situation might be different if the symbol were universally recognized as vile and odious. But that's not the case with Columbus. He's a hero to some, an ambivalent figure to others, and a villain to relatively few.

The courts allowed Nazis to march in Skokie, Illinois. They aren't going to turn around and say Columbus supporters can't march. However bad Columbus was, he was no Hitler.

Looks to me like the parade protesters are going to jail.