Citizens’ Petition sought to change name back to ‘Columbus Day’ 

By Theresa Knapp 

Medway Town Moderator Tina Oster opened the Medway Fall Town Meeting on Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day, by acknowledging and thanking Medway veterans at the meeting; the audience responded with a round of applause. 

The meeting warrant included 14 articles and lasted one hour. The full warrant can be found at https://bit.ly/MedwayFTMnov2025. 

All articles passed except Article 14, a Citizens’ Petition that sought to “return the name Columbus Day to the holiday that falls on the second Monday of October, now known as Indigenous Peoples Day.” 

Town Meeting member Dorothy Robinson identified herself as the lead petitioner and moved to withdraw the article.  

“I would like to recognize that Columbus Day be made our October holiday and it is justified and most proper. I, along with many residents, believe strongly that honoring the Italian heritage, the amazing accomplishments, the heroism, and the passion of one of the world’s greatest explorers should be forefront on this day. Yet tonight, regrettably, it appears that we are not in the position to fully present that narrative in a civil and unbiased forum. Therefore, as the lead petitioner, I must inform you that our intent to withdraw and pass over any action on this article, and instead we will look to a future Town Meeting where we will advance the Citizens’ Petition on this very topic. Madam Moderator, there will not be a positive motion [to advance] Article 14 tonight,” said Robinson.

The Moderator then asked for approval to pass over/withdraw the article, which passed with a clear voice vote. However, that then caused some confusion and procedural questions in the audience. 

A Town Meeting member, who was prepared to discuss the topic that evening, asked the Moderator to count the vote – indicating that, if it failed, the audience could have a discussion that evening.

The results of an electronic vote (via voting clickers) was 138 yes to 101 no, and the article was passed over/withdrawn. 

A recording of the meeting can be found at https://vimeo.com/event/4296217.