DENVER -- Denver police on Saturday arrested dozens of Columbus Day protesters who said they were determined to stop this year's parade in downtown Denver.

Some Native American activists have demonstrated for years, but they said on this 100th year of Denver's parade, they wanted to send a message.

"We're here to make a statement that in the birthplace of Columbus Day, it has to stop somewhere," said Glenn Morris, a Native American activist. "That's why we're out here because it constitutes ethnic intimidation and race hate."

He poured fake blood with doll parts into the street to represent the genocide of indigenous people. Many believe the holiday celebrates a slave trader and the wholesale slaughter of Native Americans.

Columbus Day parade organizers, however, say the celebration has become part of Italian-American culture and heritage.

"I've been coming to these parades since I was 10," said Anna Vann, a parade organizer, who waited for more than an hour for police to get protesters out of the parade's path. "It's aggravating. I don't care if they protest; that's their right, but don't interfere with the parade."

Hundreds of demonstrators showed up to line the streets, and some tried to block the parade route.

Denver police in riot gear arrested 83 protesters, including prominent Native American activists Morris and Russell Means.

Police said no one was seriously hurt, and there was no violence as in past years.

Most of the protesters face charges of impeding the right of way of a parade route and 10 people face charges of resisting arrest.

Police said large protests like the one downtown help them learn and prepare for next year, when the Democratic National Convention will be in downtown Denver.