What's the connection?

There seems to be a disconnect between choosing Columbus as their savior and the Italian-American struggle. It's confusing. And is stirring up a lot of pain within the Italian-American community. I believe this screen capture of an article sums up the historical context of how Columbus was used as an American diety to protect Italian-Americans against discrimination. However, what I'm lacking is why choose someone so ... evil? 

https://publichumanist.com/2018/10/08/solidarity/?fbclid=IwAR3g-YnxWW70uGGpvT1lt70UbFMXwx5VR3eBusETpCl5qErbFIaXUxmzpC0