Thanksgiving is widely celebrated across the United States and Canada, but what some people may not know is how many people oppose it with their own Anti-Thanksgiving holidays:
1. Unthanksgiving Day
To honor the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement of 1969, when Native Americans occupied the Island of Alcatraz in protest, Unthanksgiving Day is organized every year on Thanksgiving by the International Indian Treaty Council and American Indian Contemporary Arts. This event, held every year in San Fransisco, honors the Native Americans subject to European colonization and celebrates their survival.
2. National Day of Mourning
Anti-Thanksgiving protests have developed over the years, most that are against the celebration of European invasion on Native American territory. Protesters of all races are frustrated because, on Thanksgiving, "in the United States, this reluctance to acknowledge our original sin -- the genocide of indigenous people -- is of special importance..."[source]. Our country is a powerhouse, and protesters see that our lack of recognition for the indigenous lives lost and civilizations torn apart when Europe colonized America condones the Europeans' behavior.
The National Day of Mourning, organized by the United American Indians of New England, honors Native American Culture and recognizes the struggles Native Americans were faced with and are still dealing with today.
3. PETA Thanksgiving Turkey Protest
While some protest the holiday, others protest the food. Every year, vegans encourage everyone to go vegan for thanksgiving, often by providing recipes and alternatives for our favorite thanksgiving dishes. In 2015, though, PETA went as far as to organize a graphic Turkey Protest to get the point across. Member of PETA Jacek Prus stripped down and placed himself next to two prepared, but not cooked, turkeys to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. "PETA is asking people to view turkeys as individuals and not as holiday centerpieces," said a PETA spokeswoman about the protest.
