Overview

• Argentina’s presidential office posted an October 12 video lauding Cristóbal Colón for initiating “civilization, order and progress” and portraying pre‑contact societies as a “world sunk in barbarism.”
• The piece, shared on Casa Rosada’s official X account, concludes that “civilization prevailed over savagery” and calls for defending Western civilization, prompting widespread criticism in media and on social networks.
• Although the Milei administration has returned to using “Día de la Raza” in communications, it has not revoked Decree 1584/2010, which formally established “Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural.”
• Resolution 139/2025 kept that legal denomination and transferred this year’s holiday to Friday, October 10 for tourism purposes.
• Buenos Aires governor Axel Kicillof said the province will continue to mark the date as “Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural,” while in Mexico the day is recognized as “Día de la Nación Pluricultural” and SEP confirmed classes on Monday, October 13.