First National Day of Mourning for Native Americans held in Plymouth MA

Aquinnah Wampanoag elder and lifelong advocate for Indigenous rights, Wamsutta Frank James was uninvited to the 350th anniversary 'celebration' of the Pilgrim landing at Plymouth rock after his planned speech was read by the colonial authorities organizing the event. The speech was published in newspapers around the country and Wamsutta decided to hold a counter event which became the first National Day of Mourning for Native Americans. Hundreds of Indigenous peoples from across North America traveled to support the Wampanoag leader and to demonstrate against the celebration of colonial white washing. Native demonstrators painted Plymouth rock red, boarded the replica Mayflower, removed the flag of Saint George, the patron saint of England, and threw overboard a wax statue of the captain. The National Day of Mourning for Native Americans continues today still organized by United American Indians of New England.