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Students aim to educate about other aspects of Columbus' life

A group of Baltimore high school students held a demonstration this morning to educate people about the less-heroic elements of Christopher Columbus, on a day most Americans honor the explorer.

The students from Baltimore Freedom Academy, a citywide charter school focusing on social justice and activism, spent the past six weeks comparing textbook accounts of Columbus' travels and actions with primary sources about his life, such as journals and writings.

As the culmination of their project, between 65 and 75 teenagers held signs and passed out fliers near the Columbus statue on President Street near Eastern Avenue, offering 1,492 reasons not to celebrate Columbus.

"We just want everybody to know who the real Columbus was," said William Mathews, 16, of East Baltimore.
Read entire article at Baltimore Sun