According to the Salt Lake Tribune, senators referred to the bill as a "slap in the face to Italian-Americans," referring to Columbus’ Italian ancestry, and that Senator Allen Christensen, a Republican of North Ogden, said Columbus was “a great American hero.”

The most disputed remarks, however, came from Republican Senator Todd Weiler of Woods Cross.

"The native population gave the early explorers syphilis, which they brought back to Europe,” Weiler said. “Blaming Columbus for the extermination of the native population is as fair as blaming the native population for people who die using tobacco and cocaine, which the natives introduced to the Europeans."

The protestors were ordered to leave the Senate gallery after allegedly yelling, "Todd Weiler, we want to talk to you! You are racist. You are on stolen land."