IADL Newsletter

March 23, 2025

In Meriden, Connecticut, police found a flagpole snapped at a church and confirmed that there was a missing POW flag, broken American flags, and graffiti on a Columbus statue on municipal property. Marco Mejil Jr., a thirty-year old, was charged with vandalism and turned himself in to authorities. The vandalism was reported on February 25, 2025. Five years ago, a Marco Mejil, then 25 years old from Waterbury, was charged with three counts of a violation of a protective order, second degree harassment, as reported in the Southington Citizen on September 4, 2020. For years, it has been evident that the vandals who attack Columbus monuments are unstable people who hate America.

Connecticut Senate Bill 1228: An Act Designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a Legal Holiday

Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Bill 1228 was referred to the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis. Both offices published their reports on March 19th. No date for Indigenous Peoples’ Day was written into the bill. Once the bill moves to a full vote, it can be amended and have a date inserted. That means Columbus Day is at risk.

The Office of Legislative Research submitted its analysis of Bill 1228 and if passed will take effect on July 1, 2025, which means it could impact the next Columbus Day. The text of the analysis is written here:

This bill establishes a new legal state holiday on an unspecified date known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The State Personnel Act mandates that each full-time permanent state employee get paid time off for legal holidays (CGS § 5-254). To the extent it is considered a change in working conditions, an additional paid day off may have to be negotiated with public employee collective bargaining units. By law, legal state holidays are also bank and credit union holidays, during which time bank and credit union transactions are generally suspended (CGS § 36a-23). Under existing law, except for holidays in January and December, when a legal holiday falls on a school day, the decision to close public schools is made by each local school district. Under the bill, this would also apply for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. By law, unchanged by the bill, each local and regional board of education that stays open on a legal state holiday must hold a suitable educational program to mark the holiday.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis determined that Bill 1228 would have no state or municipal impact explained here:

The bill establishes Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a state holiday but does not establish a date. Due to the lack of a specific date or method to establish a date to observe the holiday, there is no fiscal impact to the bill. Typically, the establishment of a new state holiday results in annual costs to the state of up to $2.3 million and to municipalities of up to $200,000. There is an additional cost associated with fringe benefits for those essential workers that would accrue overtime pay for working on the newly established state holiday at a rate of 21.02% of payroll for hazardous positions and 12.58% for normal positions.

Contact members of the Government Administration and Election Committee to tell them we support Indigenous Peoples’ Day in November and oppose any change to Columbus Day.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

March 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, March 25, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link. IADL President Matthew Guarnieri will give a brief update on happenings in Connecticut. All Americans of every background are welcome as we call “to bring different cultures together and facilitate conversations about preserving cultural heritage in the face of cancel culture. Join us to learn more about the importance of cultural preservation and how we can work together to ensure that our respective heritages are protected from cancel culture.” Individuals and organizations are asked to consider joining the Seven Generations Alliance. Strength is in numbers and the goal is to create a coalition 1 million people strong.

March 26, 2025 – IADL Meeting – 6PM in Guilford

Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 6PM in Guilford. Meet IADL board members and discuss important IADL happenings. Your RSVP will help us prepare for the meeting. Register here! Expect an email from us with the agenda before the meeting. Our meeting will take place in Guilford, CT. The address will appear on your screen after you submit the RSVP.

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

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Columbus Memorial Meriden, Connecticut

IADL Newsletter

March 16, 2025

Passion, Perseverance, and Performance: A Conversation with Maria Teresa Lonetti, Choreographer at Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection in Clinton, CT

For over a decade, Maria Teresa Lonetti has been a cornerstone of Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection, where her creative choreography has helped bring over 45 main stage performances to life. Known for her dedication to every child on stage and her passion for fostering creativity in young performers, Maria’s impact on young actors is immeasurable. From studying at the American Musical Dramatic Academy and The New School in New York City to learning at Santa Reparata in Florence, Italy, and building relationships with Broadway and off-Broadway performers, Maria’s life journey consists of continuous growth and commitment to cultivating talent in others. She holds a degree in Theater and has worked as a drama teacher in public schools.

In this interview, we dive into Maria’s experience in her current position as choreographer, musical theater director, and dance instructor at Kidz Konnection. She explains how her Italian heritage plays a role in her labor of love. Read the entire interview in the “Our Italian Stories” page on IADL’s website.

Connecticut Proposed Senate Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission

Connecticut Senate Bill 1162 to form an Italian-American Heritage Commission has stalled in the legislative process. IADL will keep you updated if there is any change during this legislative session. Contact members of the Commerce Committee to explain your support of pushing this bill forward and the positive impact it can have on Connecticut’s business and tourism by forming relationships with Italian groups here and abroad.

Connecticut Senate Bill 1228: An Act Designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a Legal Holiday

Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Bill 1228 was referred to the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis on March 13th. Analyzing the impact of the passage of the bill in these offices is another step in the legislative process. Soon this bill may be voted on in the General Assembly. Contact members of the Government Administration and Election Committee to tell them we support Indigenous Peoples’ Day in November and oppose any change to Columbus Day.

What do you think about this Cheetos pizza commercial?

Watch the commercial on YouTube and reply with your opinion of its portrayal of Italians.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

March 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, March 25, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online (if the March registration link is not ready yet, it will be available soon) and receive a ZOOM link. All Americans of every background are welcome as we call “to bring different cultures together and facilitate conversations about preserving cultural heritage in the face of cancel culture. Join us to learn more about the importance of cultural preservation and how we can work together to ensure that our respective heritages are protected from cancel culture.” Individuals and organizations are asked to consider joining the Seven Generations Alliance. Strength is in numbers and the goal is to create a coalition 1 million people strong.

March 26, 2025 – IADL Meeting – 6PM in Guilford

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Maria Lonetti, choreographer, musical theater director, and dance instructor at Kidz Konnection

IADL Newsletter

March 9, 2025

March 14, 1891 lynchings were the catalyst for the creation of Wooster Square's Columbus monument. The words cast on the plaque of Wooster Square’s Columbus Monument were “A Cristoforo Colombo Gl’ Italiani di New Haven.” The Italians of New Haven erected the Columbus Monument in 1892 after violence and lynchings against Italian immigrants in West Virginia and New Orleans. In the aftermath of the New Orleans lynchings of eleven Italian immigrants on March 14, 1891, a group of prominent Italian men from New Haven met and denounced the lynchings. The energy at that meeting was the catalyst for the planning and preparation of the events to follow.

On October 11, 1892, thousands at the Columbus Day parade lined the streets of New Haven for miles, including members of civic organizations from throughout the city. Two days later, the hands of Italians laid the cornerstone, and the Columbus statue was dedicated a little more than a week later on the twenty-first. Paul Russo, representing United Italian Societies, also a banker and the first Italian to earn a degree from Yale Law School, dedicated the monument to Christopher Columbus on October 21, 1892. The statue, fully funded by Italian residents, faced Long Island Sound, the route to the New World. Columbus set the path for New Haven Italians to follow to the Land of Opportunity, and they admired him for his faith, courage, and spirit of enlightenment.

Without a strong national identity in Italy and living in the tenements of “Little Naples” in Wooster Square, 1892 marked an important date. It was the first time Italians felt part of a nation, part of America, because it was one of their own, Christopher Columbus, who connected two worlds 400 years earlier. Children across the United States pledged their allegiance to the flag for the first time on Columbus Day, 1892, showing its roots as a patriotic holiday. The Italians in Wooster Square championed the anniversary in New Haven with visitors from every part of the state.

The Wooster Square Columbus Monument marked two moments in history with a plaque on the statue’s plinth, 1492 and 1892. A stone marker at the base of the monument was placed in 1992 to recognize the quincentenary, 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery. We are the beneficiaries of the New Haven Italians of 1892, and it is our duty to honor their wishes to keep their Columbus monument erected in perpetuity. It is an injustice that that statue was removed by an angry mob, mayor, congresswoman, and a few complicit political insiders of Italian descent.

Further Your Knowledge

IADL Membership Update

Welcome to our newest member, Michael Bonelli! Currently IADL has 190 full members and an additional 41 newsletter subscribers. Full members provide their full name, address, telephone number, and email address. They have voting rights at IADL’s annual meeting. We would love to offer additional perks to members. If you are a business owner and would like to offer a coupon or benefit to IADL members, please contact us.

Connecticut Proposed Senate Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission

Let’s continue to advocate for Italian-American heritage in Connecticut. Click here to obtain the information you need to contact members of the Connecticut Commerce Committee and your state legislators. A sample paragraph is included that you can use when emailing representatives.

Connecticut Senate Bill 1228: An Act Designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a Legal Holiday

The Government Administration and Elections Committee voted in favor of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day bill with 14 YEA and 5 NAY votes. Interestingly, MJ Shannon of the 117th District who co-sponsored the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage bill also supports this bill. That gives me hope, but we must be clear! Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, or sharing the second Monday of October is a “slap in the face” to people of Italian descent.

YEA Votes: Sen. Flexer M. S29, Rep. Blumenthal M. 147, Sen. Honig P. S08, Rep. Morrin Bello A. 028, Rep. Osborne M. 016, Rep. Carpino C. 032, Rep. Gauthier N. 038, Rep. Haddad G. 054, Rep. Johnson D. 143, Rep. Menapace N. 037, Rep. Rosario C. 128, Rep. Santiago H. 084, Rep. Shannon M. 117, Sen. Winfield G. S10

NAY Votes: Sen. Sampson R. S16, Rep. Mastrofrancesco G. 080, Rep. Bronko S. 070, Rep. Foncello M. 107, Rep. Hoxha J. 078

The February 28, 2025 committee meeting notes state, “Rep. Mastrofrancesco questioned that there was no date for the holiday. Senator Flexer explained that they were consulting with the Indigenous tribes in Connecticut as to what would be a good date. Possible in November.” Columbus Day must be preserved as a stand-alone holiday.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

March 26, 2025 – IADL Meeting – 6PM in Guilford

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

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Removed Christopher Columbus statue

IADL Newsletter

March 2, 2025

Another day, another lazy Mafia comparison. Last week, Congressman Jim Himes went on Fox News Sunday and compared Donald Trump’s Ukraine minerals deal to The Sopranos, calling it “Mafia-like” behavior. Instead of pushing back, Shannon Bream repeated the term while speaking with Rep. Jim Jordan. Over on Fox Sports, announcers Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson called Rick Pitino “The Godfather” during the UConn vs. St. John’s basketball game. If that wasn’t bad enough, they juxtaposed an image of Michael Corleone—the infamous Godfather character—on the screen next to Pitino.

The message is clear: all prominent Italian men are reduced to Mafia figures. No matter their achievements, the media insists on framing them through the lens of organized crime. This kind of stereotyping is outdated, offensive, and unacceptable. Why does this keep happening? Italian-Americans are judges, doctors, teachers, business leaders, and yes, Hall of Fame coaches. And yet, every time one of us reaches a position of prominence, the media can’t resist slapping the “Mafia” label on us. Let’s be clear: When an Italian-American runs a basketball program well, he's not "The Godfather." When a New York businessman makes a deal, it's not a "Mafia" move. When a New York politician negotiates, he’s not “running a shakedown.”

This isn’t about being “offended”—it’s about holding the media and politicians accountable. No other ethnic group would be subjected to this kind of stereotyping without immediate backlash. And yet, for decades, Italian-Americans have had to put up with these lazy, reductive, and frankly insulting labels. It’s time to call it out and demand an apology. Major news outlets and politicians must do better, and we will not stand by while they continue to peddle offensive, outdated stereotypes. Enough is enough.

IADL Membership Update

Welcome to our newest member, Anthony Bengivenga! Currently IADL has 189 full members and an additional 41 newsletter subscribers. Full members provide their full name, address, telephone number, and email address. They have voting rights at IADL’s annual meeting. We would love to offer additional perks to members. If you are a business owner and would like to offer a coupon or benefit to IADL members, please contact us.

Connecticut Proposed Senate Bill 1162: An act establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

March 26, 2025 – IADL Meeting – 6PM in Guilford

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

Michael Corleone, Godfather character, juxtaposed next to Coach Rick Pitino of St. John's.

Fox Sports Graphic

IADL Newsletter

February 23, 2025

Thank you to Anthony Bengivenga, UNICO National President, for sharing information with members about Connecticut Senate Bill 1162 to establish a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission. Another Italian publication covered the story, and now we, in Connecticut, must keep advocating for the bill.

Italian American Defense League, et al vs City of New Haven, et al - Appeal #24-2877

The Italian-American Defense League continues to fight to return the Christopher Columbus statue to its plinth at Wooster Square Park in New Haven. The Brief and Appendix for the Italian American Defense League (IADL) v City of New Haven, et al appeal was filed on February 11, 2025 in the US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. The Defendants requested an extension to file their Brief, which is pending approval from the Court, with a deadline of May 12th.

Connecticut Proposed Senate Bill 1162: An act establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission

We in the Italian-American community want to thank Senator Ryan Fazio and Representative Chris Aniskovich for introducing the bill to create a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission. Senate Bill 1162 states, "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: That the general statutes be amended to establish a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission to preserve and promote Italian and Italian-American heritage, including, but not limited to, by developing cultural and educational programs, and preserving certain 5 cultural and historical sites in the state.” The bill is now bipartisan with Representative Michael “MJ” Shannon and Senator Paul Cicarella as co-sponsors of the bill. We encourage you to express your support of the bill to members of the Commerce Committee and ask your local representatives to become co-sponsors of the bill.

Contact your local representative.

Connecticut Senate Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/slist.asp

Connecticut House Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/hlist.asp

Email members of the Connecticut Commerce Committee.

chris.aniskovich@housegop.ct.gov

jason.buchsbaum@housegop.ct.gov

ellish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov

Jane.Garibay@cga.ct.gov

Joan.Hartley@cga.ct.gov

bill.heffernan@cga.ct.gov

sarah.keitt@cga.ct.gov

Henri.Martin@cga.ct.gov

Ben.McGorty@housegop.ct.gov

Stephen.Meskers@cga.ct.gov

patricia.miller@cga.ct.gov

Norm.Needleman@cga.ct.gov

MD.Rahman@cga.ct.gov

Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov

john.santanella@cga.ct.gov

Heather.Somers@cga.ct.gov

Kurt.Vail@housegop.ct.gov

kerry.wood@cga.ct.gov

Connecticut Senate Bill 1228: An Act designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a Legal Holiday

We must keep our eye on Senate Bill 1228 which would add Indigenous Peoples’ Day to the list of Connecticut state holidays. IADL supports IPD on the Friday after Thanksgiving or August 9, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Below is the text of the “Raised Bill” which adds Indigenous Peoples’ Day to the list of state holidays, but does not include a date, “the second Monday in October (known as Columbus Day), the eleventh day of November (known as Veterans' Day), the ____ day of ____ (known as Indigenous Peoples' Day) . . .”. We must ensure Columbus Day is maintained as its own holiday.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

February 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, February 25, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link. All Americans of every background are welcome as we call “to bring different cultures together and facilitate conversations about preserving cultural heritage in the face of cancel culture. Join us to learn more about the importance of cultural preservation and how we can work together to ensure that our respective heritages are protected from cancel culture.” Individuals and organizations are asked to consider joining the Seven Generations Alliance. Strength is in numbers and the goal is to create a coalition 1 million people strong.

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

CT Raised Bill 1228

IADL Newsletter

February 16, 2025

Democrat Michael "MJ" Shannon now co-sponsors Connecticut Senate Bill 1162 to establish a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission, making the bill bi-partisan, which is an essential step to gain the support needed for the bill to become law! Also last week, IADL and the Connecticut Council of American Italian Organizations received more press coverage in La Voce di New York and in an Italian-American newspaper. Please read and share the articles.

English: https://lavocedinewyork.com/en/news/2025/02/09/connecticut-legislators-propose-a-bill-for-an-italian-american-commission/

Italian: https://lavocedinewyork.com/news/2025/02/09/il-connecticut-propone-listituzione-della-commissione-italoamericana/

Also, contact the Commerce Committee and your state legislators to support the bill. Contact information can be found on IADL's website.

https://iadlnow.org/press-releases

COPOMIAO Supports H.R.1102- National Museum of Italian American History Commission Act

The legislation to initiate the creation of a National Italian American History Museum in Washington, D.C. has been introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives. It is now our responsibility to encourage as many U.S. Congressional Representatives as possible to sign on as cosponsors of the legislation. Connecticut Congressman Rosa DeLauro co-sponsored the bill. We should forward the letter attached to every Representative in the state in which we reside, with a note encouraging them to support this legislation by signing on as a cosponsor. Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) has been collaborating with New York Congressman Tom Suocci to initiate the bill, which would approve the beginning steps of creating an Italian American Museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution which is long overdue.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

February 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

March 1, 2025 – IADL Meeting – POSTPONED – Will Be Re-scheduled

Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will take place on the first Saturday of March at 9 a.m. Meet IADL board members and enjoy coffee and donuts from Dunkin’. Your RSVP will help us prepare for the meeting by ordering treats and printing documents. Expect an email from us with the agenda before the meeting. Our meeting will take place in Guilford, CT. The address will appear on your screen after you submit the RSVP.

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

CT Senate Bill 1162

IADL Newsletter

February 9, 2025

Thank you to President Michael Piscitelli and Vice President David DiMartino of the Amity Club for giving me the opportunity to speak to their prestigious organization last Tuesday. The AM in Amity stands for America, and the ITY stands for Italy. The word AMITY means friendship, peace, and harmony, which is quite appropriate for an organization that donated $90,000 in scholarships to graduating high school students last year. The service organization of American-Italian business owners was founded in 1936 and continues to serve the New Haven area today. Learn more about the history of the Amity Club and the Amity Charitable Trust on the organization’s website. It was a pleasure meeting IADL members at the meeting who are also members of the Amity Club. Your support is appreciated.

Contact Connecticut Legislators to Support Bill Forming Italian-American Heritage Commission

For the second week, IADL asks you to contact members of the Connecticut Commerce Committee. Connecticut Senator Ryan Fazio (36th Senate District) and Representative Chris Aniskovich (35th House District) have introduced Proposed Bill No. 1162, "An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission" to the Commerce Committee. The bill aims to create a commission dedicated to preserving and promoting Italian and Italian-American heritage throughout the state.

Email all members of the Commerce Committee with one email stating that you support Senate Bill No. 1162!

chris.aniskovich@housegop.ct.gov

jason.buchsbaum@housegop.ct.gov

ellish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov

Jane.Garibay@cga.ct.gov

Joan.Hartley@cga.ct.gov

bill.heffernan@cga.ct.gov

sarah.keitt@cga.ct.gov

Henri.Martin@cga.ct.gov

Ben.McGorty@housegop.ct.gov

Stephen.Meskers@cga.ct.gov

patricia.miller@cga.ct.gov

Norm.Needleman@cga.ct.gov

MD.Rahman@cga.ct.gov

Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov

john.santanella@cga.ct.gov

Heather.Somers@cga.ct.gov

Kurt.Vail@housegop.ct.gov

kerry.wood@cga.ct.gov

And contact your state senator and state representative to ask them to become a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission.

Connecticut Senate Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/slist.asp

Connecticut House Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/hlist.asp

History of the Columbus Statue Removal in New Haven

Is the new immigrant statue an Italian immigrant statue or a generic immigrant statue? Former Mayor of New Haven John DeStefano may have answered that question at the February 9, 2022 Historic District Commission meeting. The meeting notes state, “Mr. DeStefano says that he is struck by work over the past twenty years that has been framed by circumstances and decisions made by people long ago. This work is rooted in and among the City’s rich past and points to aspiration of New Haven. He adds that while Congresswoman DeLauro sees the faces of her relatives, he also sees the faces of Afghanis who come to [the] city now in the proposed sculpture.” Furthermore, on Friday, Mayor Justin Elicker announced that New Haven would join a coalition of cities suing President Trump for Executive Orders against sanctuary cities. Perhaps the new immigrant statue isn’t an “Italian” statue at all, but the city’s “Sanctuary City” statue. Only the return of the Christopher Columbus statue can put this new immigrant monument into context.

Top 3 Contributions of Christopher Columbus to the World

Do you agree or disagree? 1. The spread of Western knowledge and Christianity. 2. The route that Columbus used four times is still used today. 3. The exchange of technology, such as agriculture and navigation, between the Europeans and Natives.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

February 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

March 1, 2025 – IADL Meeting

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

Amity Club Logo

IADL Newsletter

February 2, 2025

Yesterday, “We the Italians” published IADL’s press release announcing the introduction of Connecticut Senate Bill 1162 to the Joint Committee of Commerce. Read more about the legislation that calls to establish an Italian-American Heritage Commission in Connecticut. The prior week, IADL’s press release announcing our case and explaining key legal points was also published in “We the Italians”. The article can be found here. In addition to “We the Italians,” the newspaper, “GIA: Giornale Italo Americano,” which is published in Italian and English, included our press release. The reach of the paper is the Northeast United States, Florida, Switzerland, and Italy. View screenshots of the article on IADL’s page on X.

Contact Connecticut Legislators to Support Bill Forming Italian-American Heritage Commission

Connecticut Senator Ryan Fazio (36th Senate District) and Representative Chris Aniskovich (35th House District) have introduced Proposed Bill No. 1162, "An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission," to the General Assembly. The bill, referred to the Committee on Commerce, proposes "to establish a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission to preserve and promote Italian and Italian-American heritage, including, but not limited to, by developing cultural and educational programs, and preserving certain cultural and historical sites in the state.”

"This legislation is about recognizing and celebrating the vibrant heritage of Italian-Americans in Connecticut," said Matthew Guarnieri, President of the Italian-American Defense League. "The commission will play a vital role in educating future generations and ensuring that the cultural contributions of Italian-Americans remain an integral part of our state's identity."

The Italian-American Defense League on behalf of the Connecticut Council of American Italian Organizations encourages residents to contact members of the Commerce Committee and advocate for the bill to be sent to the floor of the Connecticut General Assembly for a vote. "This proposed commission is a significant step toward preserving the cultural heritage of Italian-Americans in Connecticut," said Matthew Guarnieri. "We urge our community and all those who value the contributions of Western Civilization to our society, to stand together and support this important initiative."

Email your representative or the entire delegation of Commerce Committee members. Here is a sample draft that you may use: I am writing to express my strong support for Proposed Senate Bill No. 1162, which seeks to establish the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission. This bill represents a vital opportunity to preserve the cultural and historical contributions of Italian-Americans in our state, ensuring future generations understand and appreciate their rich legacy. I urge you to support this initiative, which will foster greater cultural awareness, expand language programs, protect historic sites, and celebrate the diverse heritage that makes Connecticut unique, which has positively impacted every facet of life in our state.

Commerce Committee Members (18 members)

Chris Aniskovich, (R) House District 35, Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook, chris.aniskovich@housegop.ct.gov *Introduced Bill

Jason Buchsbaum, (R) House District 69, Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury, Southbury, jason.buchsbaum@housegop.ct.gov

Eilish Collins Main, (D) House District 146, Stamford, ellish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov

Jane Garibay, (D) House District 60, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Jane.Garibay@cga.ct.gov

Joan Hartley, (D) Senate District 15, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Waterbury, Joan.Hartley@cga.ct.gov

Bill Heffernan, (D) House District 115, West Haven, bill.heffernan@cga.ct.gov

Sarah Keitt, (D) House District 134, Fairfield, Trumbull, sarah.keitt@cga.ct.gov

Henri Martin, (R) Senate District 31, Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, Henri.Martin@cga.ct.gov

Ben McGorty, (R) House District 122, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, Ben.McGorty@housegop.ct.gov

Stephen Meskers, (D) House District 150, Greenwich, Stephen.Meskers@cga.ct.gov

Patricia Billie Miller, (D) Senate District 27, Darien, Stamford, patricia.miller@cga.ct.gov

Norm Needleman, (D) Senate District 33, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Westbrook, Norm.Needleman@cga.ct.gov

MD Rahman, (D) Senate District 4, Andover, Bolton, Glastonbury, Manchester, MD.Rahman@cga.ct.gov

Kara Rochelle, (D) House District 104, Ansonia, Derby, Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov

John Santanella, (D) House District 58, Enfield, john.santanella@cga.ct.gov

Heather Somers, (R) Senate District 18, Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington, Voluntown, Heather.Somers@cga.ct.gov

Kurt Vail, (R) House District 52, Somers, Stafford, Union, Woodstock, Kurt.Vail@housegop.ct.gov

Kerry Wood, (D) House District 29, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, kerry.wood@cga.ct.gov

Email all members of the committee with one email!

chris.aniskovich@housegop.ct.gov

jason.buchsbaum@housegop.ct.gov

ellish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov

Jane.Garibay@cga.ct.gov

Joan.Hartley@cga.ct.gov

bill.heffernan@cga.ct.gov

sarah.keitt@cga.ct.gov

Henri.Martin@cga.ct.gov

Ben.McGorty@housegop.ct.gov

Stephen.Meskers@cga.ct.gov

patricia.miller@cga.ct.gov

Norm.Needleman@cga.ct.gov

MD.Rahman@cga.ct.gov

Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov

john.santanella@cga.ct.gov

Heather.Somers@cga.ct.gov

Kurt.Vail@housegop.ct.gov

kerry.wood@cga.ct.gov

Contact your state senator and state representative to ask them to become a co-sponsor of Proposed Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission.

Connecticut Senate Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/slist.asp

Connecticut House Members: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/hlist.asp

Since June 2020, six Italian-American historic sites have been altered, and only one Columbus Day parade remains in the state. Meanwhile, Italian language programs are being eliminated, and harmful stereotypes continue to persist—despite the fact that Italian-Americans have made significant contributions to Connecticut’s history and culture, such as building vital infrastructure like the Merritt Parkway, founding successful businesses like Calabro Cheese, and excelling in public service, including Governor Ella Grasso, the first woman elected governor in the United States.

Groundhog Day and Italian Traditions

Do you believe in the prognostication powers of a groundhog? Today is Groundhog Day, with our American celebration “grounded” in European legends and folklore. This BBC article says, “In northern Italy, the final three days of January are known as "the days of the female blackbird" (I giorni della Merla). According to a rural archaic legend, the blackbird was once white (and beautiful and arrogant), and she told January that she didn't suffer the cold. So January sent her extra harsh days, she had to hide in a chimney, and that's how she became black. Because of this, during I giorni della Merla, the locals say that if the weather is mild these three days, winter will extend longer – and if it's harsh, spring will come sooner.” Continue reading this BBC article here, or read more about the days of the female blackbird at this link to Italy Magazine.

Italian Heritage News

Stanley Tucci To Receive Renaissance Award From AGBO & Italian Sons And Daughters Of America

Italian American Future Leaders Drives Cultural Windfall That's Shaping a New Generation

AGBO’s Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum Honors 2025 Renaissance Award Recipient Stanley Tucci

NIAF Congratulates Mike Johnson on Re-Election as Speaker of the House

History and Culture Collide at the New Italian American Museum in Manhattan

Someone is objecting to removing the Columbus statue in Trinadad & Tobago

Chaos as Italian ski resort is overrun by TikTok tourists

A Deep-See On DeepSeek: How Italy’s Ban Might Shape AI Oversight

20 sin-sational things [Italian] Jannik Sinner achieved by winning the Australian Open this year

Upcoming Events

February 8, 2025 – IADL Meeting

Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will now take place on the second Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. beginning in January 2025. Meet IADL board members and enjoy coffee and donuts from Dunkin’. Your RSVP will help us prepare for the meeting by ordering treats and printing documents. Expect an email from us with the agenda before the meeting. Our meeting will take place in Guilford, CT. The address will appear on your screen after you submit the RSVP.

February 25, 2025 – NAGA & IAOVC Solidarity Session

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

January 26, 2025

Welcome to new member Juan Carlos Caruso and newsletter subscribers: Asher Livingston, David Scalza, Mike Lettiere, and Tony Lumbrazo! Remember to be a full IADL member, provide your full name, address, telephone number, and email address. Email IADL or use this link. We are more than a social media group by taking action to preserve Italian American heritage and expand cultural celebrations. During this newsletter, per member requests, I included more links to Italian news.

After attending a Solidarity Session among Native Americans, Italian Americans, and other groups against cancel culture, I ask that each and every member asks leaders in organizations they are a part of to join the Seven Generations Alliance. Individuals can also join. Strength is in numbers and the goal is to create a coalition 1 million people strong.

Last week, “We the Italians” published our press release announcing our case and explaining key legal points. The article can be found here. Already about 350 readers clicked on the link to read about how The Italian-American Defense League (IADL) has filed an appeal with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge the removal of a historic Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square in New Haven, asserting that the district court's decision disregarded key legal principles, federal historic preservation laws, and the cultural heritage rights of Italian-Americans.

History of the Removal of the Columbus Monument

Did you know the Wooster Square Monument Committee NEVER considered keeping the Christopher Columbus statue on its plinth? According to Bill Iovanne, Jr. In the April 14, 2021 meeting notes of the New Haven Historic District Commision, the committee was formed per the request of Mayor Justin Elicker to replace the Columbus monument. Never were arguments heard by to keep the statue. The meeting notes state, “Mr. Iovanne presents the public art project that will replace the Columbus statue taken down by the City in June of 2020. Mr. Iovanne says that the mayor appointed the Wooster Square Monument Committee in July and that they began meeting in August. First, they wrote a mission statement, guiding principles and structured a process to follow to replace the statue removed.” Why didn’t Iovanne, the chair of the monument committee, stand-up for Italian heritage and the Americans who wanted to keep the statue on its pedestal?

In the February 9, 2021 meeting notes, we may have found the answer to the question. Iovanne stated, “the proposed depiction of a family immigrated to the United States is consistent with original 19th century design intent, together with a more contemporary approach that reduces monumentality in favor of a more human scale of design.” The idea that no single man is worthy of being put on a pedestal comes from the far-left decolonize movement. Mayor Justin Elicker is described as saying, “by lowering the pedestal to be at eye level it is very much in keeping with the contemporary way of seeing memorials from the perspective of cultural equity.” In other words, the political philosophy of diversity, equity, and “exclusion” was evident from the early stages of the monument replacement project. The idea behind the project was to de-center Italian heritage from public space by replacing Columbus with a generic immigrant statue. Columbus, significant historical dates, the historic fence, and plaque with the words, “The Italians of New Haven,” were all removed.

Italian Heritage News

Upcoming Events

February 2, 2025 -UNICO Lunch and Theatrical Experience

Please join the Bridgeport Chapter of UNICO National in conjunction with UNICO CT-District I for an Italian heritage event on Sunday, February 2nd at Circolo Sportivo Italian-American Club, 2500 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604. The afternoon consists of a Traditional Sunday Pasta Dinner and a Theatrical Experience of "The Class of Life" featuring Paul Failla's one-man presentation of his life's journey that's sure to touch anyone who values family, tradition and laughter. Tickets are only $40 which includes the meal, dessert & show. For tickets or more information, please contact: Perry V. at perryvincenzi@sbcglobal.net 203.414.8447, Maurizio Viselli at meanmo67@aol.com 203.209.5588, or Mario Bartoli at mdbartoli@sbcglobal.net 203.394.7575.

February 8, 2025 – IADL Meeting

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Bill Iovanne, Jr. co-chairs Wooster Square Monument Committee.

IADL Newsletter

January 19, 2025

Dear IADL Members and Newsletter Subscribers,

The Italian-American Defense League (IADL) today announced that it has formally filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, challenging a recent district court decision that the organization believes undermines the rights and cultural heritage of Italian-Americans, including IADL members and Plaintiff Ralph Marcarelli. IADL’s attorney Norman Pattis called U.S. District Court Judge Omar A. Williams’ decision, “ludicrous.”

The appeal stems from the district court’s ruling on ITALIAN AMERICAN DEFENSE LEAGUE & RALPH MARCARELLI Plaintiffs, v. CITY OF NEW HAVEN, JUSTIN ELICKER, Case Number 3:23-cv-773 (OAW), which concerns the removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus from Wooster Square, a historical marker dating back to 1892 that was erected in the aftermath of the 1891 mass lynching of Italians in New Orleans. The IADL argues that the lower court’s decision fails to adequately consider key legal principles about standing and historical preservation laws.

“This appeal is about ensuring fairness and protecting cultural heritage,” said Matthew Guarnieri, President of the Italian-American Defense League. “We are confident that the Second Circuit will give this case the careful consideration it deserves, recognizing if the City of New Haven is allowed to destroy Italian heritage, then every American’s heritage is in jeopardy.”

Continue reading the press release here on our website.

Italian Heritage News

CBS News Correspondent Brook Silva-Braga, tells the story of the Italian families who made Wooster Street famous for pizza, “In 1925, a man named Frank Pepe first fired up his coal oven. Soon after, his nephew opened a restaurant just two blocks away. Both became beloved pizza spots, specializing in thin-crust pies. Now, both originals are exploring new avenues.” Watch the entire news story on YouTube, here.

Upcoming Events

January 21, 2025 - Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link. Here is an interesting fact: Did you know according to the Edison Research exit poll, 65 percent of American Indians voted for President Trump over Kamala Harris, while 57 percent of whites voted for Trump in the poll of 23,000 random voters?

February 2, 2025 -UNICO Lunch and Theatrical Experience

February 8, 2025 – IADL Meeting

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

Photo credit: f11photo/iStock

IADL Newsletter

January 12, 2025

We are less than $4,000 from our fundraising goal! Eloquently described in the Federal Historic Preservation Laws: The Official Compilation of the U.S. Cultural Heritage Statutes (5th edition, 2018): "The Congress finds and declares that the spirit and direction of the nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage;” that "the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community...;" and that "the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest..." That's official policy. The "Nation" encompasses all groups, equally, without favor of one over another. The cultural heritage of Italian Americans is not excluded. Thank you for taking a stand!

Dump DeLauro Group Formed on Facebook

Congressional Candidate Mike Massey won 41% of the vote in his November 2024 third congressional district election loss to Representative Rosa DeLauro. Without any funding and organization, Massey overperformed. In July, Massey publicly supported the return of the Christopher Columbus statue to Wooster Square Park. Building on that momentum, a local group formed “Dump DeLauro” on Facebook. Many joining the group are tired of divisive identity politics and are against DeLauro’s involvement in the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue. DeLauro published her rationale and betrayal of constituents the day after the statue’s removal. We will continue to try to convince DeLauro to take a pro-Columbus stance. Will DeLauro take notice and will the new group succeed in giving the incumbent a loss in her final election in two years? Included are images from the Facebook page.

Italian Heritage News

NASA and Italian Space Agency are collaborating on refining global positioning technology that will assist with future navigation to the Moon and Mars. In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom awards President Joseph Biden handed out last week, he added one more award, and it is the only Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction given out during Biden’s presidency. Biden called Pope Francis “the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.” Due to the California wildfires, Biden canceled his last trip as president, a visit to the Vatican to honor Pope Francis in person.

A new mini-series highlighting the rise of Benito Mussolini and Fascism from 1919 to 1940 is causing controversy in Italy among politicians and modern-day political factions. Interestingly, the rise of Fascism in Italy not only impacted Italy, but also Italians in America during the same time period. Italian Americans in the labor movement in the United States were forming their own identity as workers, which was multifaceted with some having pro-Fascist sentiments. Here, Stefano Luconi describes the radical roots of Italians in the labor movement, and the effect of Italian nationalism on Italian American union workers.

Upcoming Events

January 6, 2025 (Remote Classes Begin) Learn Italian Online

The Italian Center in Carmichael, California offers virtual Italian classes on ZOOM, coordinated by language director Patrizia Cinquini Cerruti. All the information you need is online at https://italiancenter.net/learn-italian/start-here-class-schedule.html.

January 21, 2025 - Solidarity Session

February 2, 2025 -UNICO Lunch and Theatrical Experience

February 8, 2025 – IADL Meeting

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

January 5, 2025

Tomorrow is the twelfth day after Christmas Day, known as the Epiphany. In Italy and many countries around the world, the Christmas season ends with a day to commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings, who brought gifts to baby Jesus and saw Him for the first time. In Italy, the old pagan fable of a winter witch continues to be incorporated with Christmas celebrations. Enjoy listening to two stories about La Befana: The Christmas Witch by Ilse Plume and The Legend of Old Befana by Tommie DePaola.

Yesterday, President Joseph Biden gave Billionaire George Soros the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF) have expressed support for Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day. In 2022, OSF posted recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day “is an effort to tell the truth about the history of the United States—especially its creation and expansion through genocide and colonization.” Once again, the Democrats align with the forces supporting and funding cancel culture.

Italian Heritage News

On Staten Island, the population of Italian people decreased by 40,000 from 2010 to 2023, a drop of 25.5 percent. In Naples, youth unemployment is a problem and recently siblings were killed working a dangerous job in a makeshift firework factory. In Florida, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. One traveler tracked her glucose levels during a trip to Italy and found that even when eating pasta and pizza, her glucose levels remained healthy with gradual increases and decreases after meals. Read more about her experience eating less processed food in Italy.

Upcoming Events

January 6, 2025 (Remote Classes Begin) Learn Italian Online

January 11, 2025 – IADL Meeting

January 21, 2025 - Solidarity Session

February 2, 2025 -UNICO Lunch and Theatrical Experience

April 24-27, 2025 - Yale Department of Italian Studies

Donate to the Italian-American Defense League and support our legal effort on GoFundme.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

December 29, 2024

In the past three newsletters, IADL shared news articles from June 2020 highlighting the names of the key players who were instrumental in removing the Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square: Mayor Justin Elicker, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Teacher Union President Frank Carrano, Democrat Town Chair Vin Mauro Jr., and Alder Ellen Cupo played an active role. The elephant in the room is not actually an elephant, but a donkey. The Democrat party embraced the cancel culture movement in Democrat strongholds. The last Republican to hold office as Mayor of New Haven was William C. Celentano from 1945-1953. Seventy years of Democrat rule and is life better in New Haven? In 2015, President Barack Obama changed the name of Mt. McKinley to Mt. Denali, and recently President-elect Donald Trump vowed to change the name back. Often as a representative of IADL, I am asked to ignore the reality of cancel culture politics, but how can we not? Maybe that is why we are losing ground. And where were the Republican leaders? Bystanders. They didn’t get involved, except for one.

The challenge in the coming year is navigating this political reality. If Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who just was named co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional, has an epiphany, we welcome it. However, in 2020, DeLauro changed her stance on Columbus by supporting taking the Columbus statue down. Even though every major Italian heritage organization believes in the importance of maintaining Columbus Day and monuments, will DeLauro push her own agenda as co-chair? Will she listen to the people, or only to her pleasers, such as her loyal Wooster Square Monument Committee led by Bill Iovanne, Jr. which never entertained the option of keeping the Columbus statue, only replacing it?

In New Haven, there are two possibilities to counter this cancel culture movement, political and legal. How can you win politically in a city that has been controlled by one party for 70 years? That is why we continue with our legal appeal to support our GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/d247fc1d . Justice must be served. At the same time, we cannot ignore the other front which is political. If we don’t advocate for ourselves and make smart decisions at the polls, who will? That is why IADL will continue to advocate for Columbus Day, Italian monuments including Christopher Columbus, and the adoption of Italian heritage curriculum this new year.

Connecticut Council of American Italian Organizations

On July 1, 2024 at the Woodbridge Town Library, six leaders of the Connecticut Council of American Italian Organizations met with Senator Richard Blumenthal and State Deputy Director Joe Rodriquez to discuss our opposition to eliminating Columbus Day at the federal, state, and local levels. We also discussed and agreed to take the necessary steps to create an Italian heritage curriculum in Connecticut. Below is an excerpt from a draft of language that can be used in a bill. To start, we need one legislator that we can work with to sponsor a bill and then bring on co-sponsors in a bipartisan effort.

An Act establishing the Connecticut Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Culture and Education Cultural and Educational Programs, supplementing Chapter 184d of Title 10 of the Connecticut Statutes, and making an appropriation. New Jersey created a commission and Italian heritage curriculum. Why not, Connecticut?

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of Connecticut:

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

For the past several decades Hollywood and the communications media have continuously portrayed Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage as mobsters, buffoons and other nefarious characters to such an extent that it appears to be an orchestrated program of cultural dismemberment and disdain which can and will promote ethnic bigotry and loss of cultural identity.
The exposure of our children and others to this unrelenting barrage of negative images has led to the erosion and denigration of Italian-American culture, history and heritage. It has, furthermore, encouraged children to emulate negative role models and promoted the social acceptability of disrespect for and bigotry towards Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage and their culture, history and heritage--a culture, history and heritage shared by over 15 percent of Connecticut’s population.
The histories of our nation and our State have been significantly enriched by the heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage. The cultural heritage of Italy includes the classical civilization of Rome, the fine arts of the Renaissance, the scientific and artistic genius of Da Vinci, the literary works of Dante and Petrarch, the operas of Verdi and Puccini and many other contributions that have ennobled civilization.
More than 5.4 million Italians emigrated to the United States between the years 1820 and 1991; today more than 550,000 citizens of this State are of Italian descent. Our nation and our State have benefited substantially from the influences and contributions of these men, women and children and their distinctive culture, history and heritage.
It is desirable to educate our citizens about the positive aspects of the culture, music, art, language, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage.
It is the policy of the State of Connecticut that the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage are a proper concern for all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools of this State.
It is appropriate and desirable that programs, workshops, institutes, seminars and other teacher-training activities for the study of the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage be conducted at all the various elementary, middle, and high schools and institutions of higher education in this State.
It is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission to survey, design, encourage and promote the implementation of Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage cultural and educational programs in this State, with responsibility for the coordination of events that will provide appropriate awareness and memorialization of the culture, history, heritage and language of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage on a regular basis throughout the State.

Italian Heritage News

An Italian reporter is being held in an Iranian prison, and Italian officials call the situation “complicated.” Journalist Cecilia Sala is used to dangerous territory after previously reporting in Ukraine. Skier Federica Brignone became the first Italian women’s giant slalom winner in 22 years at Austria’s World Cup of Skiing event. Italian truffle company Sabatino Tartufi expanded its operations in West Haven, Connecticut. The Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street in Manhattan is new and improved with a modern design that immerses you in the past, present, and future of Italian culture and art. From fireworks to wearing red and eating pomegranates, grapes, and lentils, it is time for New Year’s Eve in Italia!

Upcoming Events

New IADL Meeting Schedule and Time

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Yale Department of Italian Studies

Learn Italian Online

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

December 22, 2024

The June 2020 petitions calling for the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Wooster Square were authored by a high school student and New Haven resident. Rhea McTiernan Huge, now an adult, and Jacob Booth parroted false claims about Columbus. Booth wrote that Columbus’s legacy exemplifies and upholds, “institutions of racism, sexism, slavery, imperialism, rape, genocide and other Human Rights atrocities.” All those claims have been debunked. Huge and Booth continued using revisionist jargon likely learned in school or from quick internet searches. Booth wrote, “the man who discovered America is not only a Eurocentric distortion of history and an untruth, but a blatant expression of disregard for the Native peoples.” Italian heritage is not mentioned in his petition. Familiar lies are repeated, and the positives are ignored in this statement, “Seeing that Columbus’s sole contribution to history was the initiation of a centuries-long regime of genocide, rape, plundering, and white supremacy, and seeing that we as a country and global society are seeking to acknowledge and correct this history.” Huge’s sources mostly include articles from Wikipedia.

Were Huge and Booth gullible in their teens by repeating lies their teacher told them? Maybe. Did politically connected Italians ask to sit down with the misinformed activists to share a more balanced account of history? No. Not only did Mayor Justin Elicker’s Italians fail to advocate for truth in history and their Italian heritage, they even signed the petition. According to the New Haven Independent in 2020, these are the men and women of Italian descent who do not understand the significance of Columbus to Italian heritage or need more education from balanced educational sources: Frank Gargano, President of Saint Andrew the Apostle Society, Paul J. Criscuolo, President of St. Catello Society, Vin Mauro Jr., Democrat Town Chair, Ellen Cupo, Alder, and Frank Carrano, retired President of New Haven’s teacher’s union. Alder Anna Festa and St. Andrew’s Apostle Society Treasurer Mel Sanseverino did not actively oppose the removal of the statue. The names above will forever be associated with the removal of an Italian-American cultural icon placed by our ancestors in 1892. . . Small group, huge lies.

Christmas in Italy

Read about eight Christmas customs in Italy. Christmas markets, La Befana, living nativities, carved presepi, St. Lucia and her flying donkey, Christmas at the Vatican, Venice’s Christmas village, and the world’s largest Christmas tree can be found in Italia. Buon Natale!

Lawsuit Verses Mayor Justin Elicker of New Haven Update

Thank you for your donations in recent days. Currently, we are 78% of the way to our fundraising goal. Let’s finish what the Italian Heritage Group of New Haven and American Italian Women of Greater New Haven started. Attorney Norm Pattis has taken our case and the remaining funds that we raise will cover costs of the entire appeal. Support our GoFundeMe at https://gofund.me/d247fc1d . Justice must be served.

Italian Heritage and Culture News

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro recently added her name to co-sponsor a bill authored by Congressman Tom Suozzi of New York to start the exploration process for creating an Italian American Museum in Washington, D.C. Because DeLauro is Chair of Appropriations, Congressman Suozzi will need DeLauro to allocate funding for the project. After COPOMIAO’S annual meeting in June 2024 and meeting Suozzi, IADL contacted DeLauro's office to inform her about the bill and asked for her support. Last week in other DeLauro news, she made headlines when calling Elon Musk, “President Musk,” during her closing comments to Congress for the funding of the U.S. government into the new year.

Did you know Lada Gaga was voted as 2024 Italian of the Year by “We the Italians” readers? Umberto Mucci brings us the December 2024 issue of his free online magazine. Read about the contest and much, much more including extreme sports, olive oil, Italian design, landmarks, Caravaggio, and Italy’s census!

Upcoming Events

New IADL Meeting Schedule and Time

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Yale Department of Italian Studies

Learn Italian Online

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

December 15, 2024

When New Haven’s Wooster Square Monument Committee Chairman ignored requests to return the Christopher Columbus statue to its pedestal, who was he siding with? Did William Iovanne, Jr., Chairman of the Committee, understand that the bad actors destroying American symbols and monuments of the United States were members of Antifa, a radical, anti-fascist group, that meets its political objectives by any means necessary? Why do leaders appease the bad guys?

According to Journalist Bill Cummings in 2017 in the Connecticut Post, “The obscure underground group accused of splashing blood-red paint on Columbus statues in Connecticut is part of a movement better known for battles with white supremacists, the alt-right and supporters of President Trump.” Cummings further elaborates by writing, “The Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement, which police say is the main suspect in the vandalism in Norwalk, Bridgeport, New Haven and Middletown, is linked to Antifa, an alt-left collection of anarchists and others that often violently clash with other protesters.”

Fast forward to June 2020 when Black Lives Matters protests were happening throughout Connecticut in response to the George Floyd tragedy in Minneapolis. According to the Connecticut Mirror, “Connecticut’s Black Lives Matters protests were generally peaceful.” Furthermore, “While police in some cities have resorted to violent tactics and mass arrests, law enforcement officials in Connecticut have responded to the protests with far less force and few arrests. Some police officers here have even taken a knee at demonstrations to show their sympathy in the wake of Floyd’s death.” Could law enforcement have ensured peaceful dialogue and activism is Wooster Square? Could Mayor Justin Elicker have released a public statement redirecting criticism and anger away from Italian-Americans and our ancestors? Instead, Mayor Justin Elicker, like Iovanne, appeased the radicals.

In places like Baltimore, Maryland, where the city’s Columbus statue was toppled during riots, did Antifa hijack Black Lives Matters protests leading to violence and the destruction of property? In the anti-fascist handbook, a Baltimore Antifa activist is quoted as saying, “You fight them by writing letters and making phone calls so you don’t have to fight them with fists. You fight them with fists so you don’t have to fight them with knives. You fight them with knives so you don’t have to fight them with guns. You fight them with guns so you don’t have to fight them with tanks.” As we live our daily lives, taking care of our families and paying the bills, isn’t it hard to imagine that groups like Antifa exist? The Columbus controversy in New Haven has opened our eyes to radical ideology and activism.

We wonder where this ideology comes from. How does it spread? Look no further than a university near you. At the University of Pennsylvania, Julia Alekseyeva, an award-winning professor, praised alleged killer Luigi Mangioni after the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Alekseyeva called Mangioni, a former UPenn graduate, an icon in a recent social media post that read, “Have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of P3nnsylvania.” She added that Mangioni is “the icon we all need and deserve.” How does this proud professor identify politically? She describes herself on her own website as a “socialist and ardent anti-fascist.” Note the numeral “3” in place of the “e” in Pennsyvania. What does the number 3 signify to Antifa? And when the privileged and radicalized Mangioni shouted these words when arriving at the courthouse, “It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!” The social activist jargon, “lived experience,” gives twisted insight into the demented reality of a sociopath who has been indoctrinated in far-left radicalism.

Like many Italian-Americans in recent days, I’ve been asked how I feel because Mangioni is Italian. My answer is that Italian heritage reflects a deep connection to family, faith, and community. Through diligence and appreciation of the beauties of life, Italians contribute to every level of society, past, present, and future. Mangioni did none of the above. Italians build; they do not destroy. Italians persevere; they do not give up. Italians welcome all into their families, they do not divide.

Lawsuit Verses Mayor Justin Elicker of New Haven Update

Currently, Italian-American Defense League raised $15,000 of our $19,500 goal to pay for the appeal of the lawsuit to return the Christopher Columbus statue to its plinth at Wooster Square Park in New Haven. We were deprived of due process because any change to a National Register Historic District must go before the State Historic Preservation Review Board for approval, which is required to hold a public hearing on the change and issue a certificate of appropriateness for the change. That process was illegally short-circuited by the mayor.

Concerning the appeal, and contrary to the United States District Court of Connecticut judge's ruling, the IADL and Plaintiff Ralph Marcarelli have standing, not only because Ralph lived in the district, but also because " The provisions of Connecticut General Statutes sections 22a-15 to 22a-19, inclusive, shall be applicable to the unreasonable destruction of historic structures and landmarks of the state, which shall be those properties (1) listed or under consideration for listing as individual units on the National Register of Historic Places.” The Christopher Columbus statue was located in a historic district listed on the national register. Any change should have been determined by the State Historic Preservation Review Board because the statue contributes “to the historic significance of such district.” In other words:

The Columbus statue was part of a historic designation, registered historic site and district with protections granted under federal and state preservation laws.
The site is part of a federally recognized historic district under the National Historic Preservation Act. The removal adversely affected the historic character of the site.
Local and state regulations provide protections for the character and historic elements of registered public spaces.

We are 77% of the way to our fundraising goal. Your generosity will carry us to the finish line. Support our GoFundeMe at https://gofund.me/d247fc1d . Justice must be served. Thank you to COPOMIAO, We the Italians, and Primo for circulating our GoFundMe page.

Italian Heritage and Culture News

Read about “My Kind of People,” directed by Joe Picozzi, who has been awarded the top prize at the 7th Annual Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum. Off the coast of Italy, an eleven-year-old refugee from Sierra Leone was rescued. She was wearing a life vest and clinging to a tube after surviving in the water for 3 days. And learn about Luigi Mangione’s family roots in Baltimore. Also, view the exterior of the newly renovated Italian American Museum in Manhattan, which was recognized for its architectural design. Click on the link and scroll down past other notable architectural feats.

Upcoming Events

New IADL Meeting Schedule and Time

Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will now take place on the second Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. beginning in January 2025. Meeting locations will be determined at a future date. IADL’s goal is to increase member involvement by making this change.

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Yale Department of Italian Studies

Enjoy amazing films and great company at the 18th Annual Festival of Italian Cinema. The event takes place from April 24-27, 2025. Mark your calendars and there’ll be more information to come.

Learn Italian Online.

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

December 8, 2024

In June 2020, a historical moment was lost. During a time of anger and division, a culture of mutual respect could have been embraced in Wooster Square in New Haven. But instead, a few individuals conspired behind the scenes ultimately to implement their own agenda. No one denies the hurt and commitment to social action that Rhea McTiernan Huge, a Wilbur Cross high school student, must have felt in the wake of the George Floyd tragedy when she created an online petition to remove Wooster Square’s Columbus statue. However, when the adults in the room discussed how to respond, they fueled the flames of divisiveness and disrespect, instead of using that time period as one of education and healing.

According to an article written by Lucy Gellman on June 16, 2020, a Branford resident who grew up in the neighborhood and became the president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers had been thinking about removing the Columbus statue for over a year. Gellman wrote, “Frank Carrano has been thinking about the need for a new monument to the neighborhood.” On June 17, 2020 in the Connecticut Post, Carrano stated he “was proud that the coalition had come together quickly to decide that the statue no longer is appropriate in the park.” George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020. The Columbus statue was removed on June 24, 2020. Did Carrano take advantage of a tragic moment after contemplating the removal of the statue the previous year? Adding statues representing other groups while keeping the Columbus statue would have been a sign of mutual respect, but was never considered.

To fight this historical injustice in court, please donate using this GoFundMe link.

Christmas Eve Tradition - Feast of the Seven Fishes

It is the second week of Advent, so it is never too early to start planning for Christmas Eve. Over the years, the media has become enamored by the Italian-American tradition called, “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” The tradition isn’t technically a Catholic feast and is just as much American as Italian. Read about the origin of the tradition on the website Eataly or this article by Chowhound.

Italian Cowboys Featured at American Heritage Museum

Italian Cowboys are being featured in an Italian heritage photo exhibition. According to Wyoming News, “The Italian word for cowboy is ‘buttero’ and, just like the English term, it refers to horse-riding figures who herd cattle and horses on horseback. They ride the wide Maremma — a marshy grassland in Italy north of Rome along the western coast of Tuscany.” Keep reading the article here.

Italian Studies Faculty Member Honored

Read this Yale University article recognizing the achievements of a faculty member of Arts & Sciences. Jane Tylus, Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature, has been inducted into the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei for her contributions to the study of late medieval and early modern European literature, culture, and religion. Her work includes exploring the history of the book, literary ownership, women’s literature, and translations. Tylus positively impacted Italian literary studies, and now is joining a historic group that even included Galileo in its early days.

Italian Heritage and Technology

In this “We the Italians” interview, Stephanie Longo answers questions about Italian heritage and social media. Different generations utilize social media, Metaverse, and artificial intelligence uniquely. Longo digs deep into what she calls eEthnicity.

Save Ancient Artifacts in Syria

Read this online article (scroll down on the website) about how Islamic fundamentalist invaders are actively seeking to destroy priceless archaeological wonders, including Roman-built structures and artistic masterpieces in Aleppo. Byzantine churches, labeled as “un-Islamic,” are being specifically targeted, threatening to erase centuries of cultural and architectural heritage. Italian Americans, deeply connected to the legacy of Roman innovation and artistry, are urged to join a global effort to protect Italy’s cultural heritage and safeguard these treasures of human history.

Upcoming Events

New IADL Meeting Schedule and Time

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Learn Italian Online.

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

December 1, 2024

Thank you for the generosity of IADL’s supporters. We are 61% of the way to our goal of $19,500 after raising $11,832 via GoFundMe and checks. Donate and share this GoFundMe with family and friends. Welcome to our newest IADL members: Chris McGovern and Thomas Palazzo. Also, welcome to the latest newsletter subscribers: Anthony Urbano and Michael Bonomo.

Advent and Christmas in Rome

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. From the unveiling of the nativity in St. Peter’s Square to the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Christmas Eve masses and the Epiphany, I can only dream of an advent and Christmas in Rome. Read about events throughout the month of December at the Vatican and learn more about these Italian Catholic traditions here.

Italians of Middletown Save Columbus Statue

Congratulations to Lou Dimauro, President of Italian American Civic Order of Middletown, for the relocation of the city’s Columbus statue. The statue was originally funded by the IACO and Italian American Society of Middletown. The inscription on the statue reads, “in celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.” With patience and perseverance, Italians of Middletown found a solution that honors their ancestors and history. Read this article in Middletown Press and watch this video of the statue being placed in its new home on November 22, 2024.

La Dolce Vita

Carla Gambescia’s book, La Dolce Vita University, is described on her website as “dedicated to the many ways Italian culture touches our lives, lifts our spirits and makes life sweeter.” Check out Gambescia’s website and sign up for her photojournal called “Postcards from the Boot.” Gambescia will give an online lecture via Zoom called “Buon Natale: Surprising Stories Behind Beloved Holiday Traditions” on Thursday, December 5th at 6:00 PM sponsored by the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW). Registration is required; here's the link.

We the Italians

We are grateful for Umberto Mucci because he shares his “We the Italians” online magazine with us free of charge. Read the November 2024 issue #181 which includes articles on news, sports, culture, cuisine, and history. In a recent article, IADL’s lawsuit was described in this way: “New Haven's Columbus statue, installed in 1892 by Connecticut's Italian American community, was removed in 2020 by jittery civic leaders who rushed to dismantle historic monuments in a misguided effort to project inclusivity. Such decisions could be overturned as the Italian-American Defense League pursues a landmark ruling through a federal appeal.”

Native American Heritage Month

Last week, the Italian-American Defense League was mentioned by several media sources nationwide by supporting Native American Heritage Month. Here is a list of sources: Native American News Today, US Culture and Style, Fox 40 TV, Sacramento, CA, and Coast to Coast Tribune

Upcoming Events

New IADL Meeting Schedule and Time

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Learn Italian Online

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

November 24, 2024

We are 32% of the way to our GoFundMe fundraising goal. Donate and share this GoFundMe with family and friends. Even if you shared the link on social media, please share it again. Your generosity is crucial for our legal and preservation efforts! The protection of historical monuments is an American issue, not just for Italians. Peter Wolfgang, president of Family Institute of Connecticut, explains why Columbus is important to Catholics and all Americans.

Why is our case a landmark case?

Historic preservation laws have never been used in establishing standing in public monument cases. There is no case law written which addresses the use of historic preservation laws to establish standing, which mean our case can create new case law. Prior lawsuits that failed focused only on due process and discrimination, while our case digs deeper into relevant laws. No doubt, appeals are challenging to win, but we have sound arguments to make to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Important legal issues concerning the case include:

Recognition of Historic Value: The Columbus statue was part of a historic designation, registered historic site and district with protections granted under federal and state preservation laws.
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA): The site is part of a federally recognized historic district. The removal adversely affected the historic character of the site.
Connecticut State Historic Preservation Laws: Local and state regulations provide protections for the character and historic elements of public spaces.

Happy Thanksgiving, but why not Columbus Day?

The American media, public institutions, and school districts continue to celebrate Thanksgiving, an American holiday, as they should. But isn’t it hypocritical that mainstream leaders honor Thanksgiving while ignoring Columbus Day? Read about this hypocrisy in my article: “Why Thanksgiving?” which was published in “We the Italians.” The article was first published in 2020. Here is an excerpt:

We, the defenders of Columbus, are not fighting against the Civil Rights of others, but defending our own, and most importantly, Truth. Context and citations exonerate Columbus, but of course, if we only read out of context quotes, we would have a different stance.

In “A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies,” Bartolome De Las Casas, known as the defender of the Indians, writes, “But here is observable, that the desolation of these Isles and Provinces took beginning since the decease of the most serene Isabella, about the year 1504.” The year 1504 is long after Columbus’s governorship of the West Indies and his voyages.

Is the attack on Columbus Day diverting attention from those who really decimated Native Americans in North America? If you are interested, keep reading. Or if you are in the mood for a lighter article, read about how Italian lasagna became an American staple for Thanksgiving dinner!

Native American Heritage Month

The Italian-American Defense League has been participating in “Solidarity Sessions” with Native Americans since March 2024, first communicating with Native American Guardian’s Association in 2021. Our two groups believe that Italian Americans and Native Americans should be recognized without sharing days or eliminating holidays and Native American logos. Unlike the Italian Elicker loyalists in Wooster Square who agreed to remove the statue in fear of Native Americans, IADL respects Native Americans by engaging them in meaningful conversations and exchanges of cultural heritage. It is an honor to participate in solidarity sessions with representatives of prestigious organizations throughout the nation. The following representatives agreed to make a statement supporting our Native American friends during Native American Heritage Month.

Association of Italian American Educators: Josephine Maietta, President

Colorado Italian American Foundation: Jerry Carleo, Chairman

Commission for Social Justice, OSDIA: Robert Ferrito, President – Dr. Mary Kovach, VP

Greater Westfield UNICO Chapter: Gene Jannotti, Past President

Italian American Alliance: Thomas Damigella, Executive Vice President

Italian American Defense League of CT: Matthew Guarneri, President

Italian American One Voice Coalition: Andre’ DiMino, President – Tony Santarelli, Director

McLean UNICO Chapter: Anthony Andreoli, President

Rafael Ortiz, Author of “Columbus the Hero” and other books on Christopher Columbus

Raritan Valley UNICO Chapter: Tara DeLeon, Past President

Scranton UNICO Chapter: Dr. Peter Cognetti, Immediate Past President

St. Thomas Knights of Columbus: George Nieves, President

Transportation Columbia Association Brooklyn: Leonardo Timpone, VP

UNICO National: Anthony Bengivenga, President – Dr. Ann Walko, Past National President

UNICO National Anti-Bias Committee: James Scanelli, Chairman

President Joseph Biden published his presidential proclamation for Native American Heritage Month. An excerpt is below and here is a link to the full proclamation.

During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the heritage and contributions of Native peoples, and we work tirelessly to build a future grounded in dignity, respect, and partnership. We remain committed to working with Native communities to write a new and better chapter in American history for Tribal Nations — one that honors the solemn promise the United States made to Tribal Nations, fulfills our Federal trust and treaty obligations, and works together to rebuild Tribal economies and institutions.

Upcoming Events

Solidarity Session

Join IADL, Italian American Once Voice Coalition, and Native American Guardian’s Association, January 21, 2025 at 8 PM EST – to participate register online and receive a ZOOM link.

Learn Italian Online

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

Facebook: IADL account disabled by Facebook

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

IADL Newsletter

November 17, 2024

Thank you for your support. Since last week’s newsletter, we have reached more than 10 percent of our fundraising goal of $19,500, but we have more work to do. The burden of countering the lawlessness of June 24, 2020 and the decision of Mayor Justin Elicker to remove the Columbus statue in New Haven should not be carried by only a few. Elicker overstepped his authority without a record of a vote or notice of a public meeting. One man desecrated 128 years of Italian-American history. He’s said publicly that Italians who oppose his decision are small. Show him we’re big and we’ll never forget what he thinks of us! Donate and share this GoFundMe with family and friends. Now is the time!

A Tribute to Veterans for School Children

Last Monday in many schools in Connecticut, children sang patriotic songs honoring their family members who are veterans of the Armed Forces. As an educator, I observed school children, eyes-wide open, enthusiastically welcoming parents and grandparents into their schools. I especially enjoyed watching grandfathers scanning the waves of red, white, and blue looking for their crown jewels. One of those grandfathers is Tom Gaudioso, Corporal in the US Marine Corps from 1968-1970. Gaudioso wrote a poem titled, “What is a Hero.” He wrote the poem for school children and it was shared on Veterans Day.

A hero is someone who is unselfish and brave

Who never asks thanks for the kindness they gave

Regular people, just like me and you

But there is nothing regular about the things that they do

They have one thing in common that sets them apart

It comes from a place down deep in their heart

Whether saving a life or helping another

Or the kindness they show for their dad and their mother

They never bully or do things that are mean

They are some of the best people that you have ever seen

So look into your heart before the things that you do

Because when you do the right things, that HERO is YOU!!!

Thank you to Tom Gaudioso for sharing this poem with school children and giving me permission to publish this poem. Did you know that state law in Connecticut requires schools to teach about state holidays if school is in session? Wouldn’t it be great if Italian-Americans would take ownership of Columbus Day curriculum and collaborate with districts to commemorate our heritage in schools?

From Stone Carver to Child Entertainer in Two Generations

He’s a man of many voices and experiences. His name is Lou Del Bianco. That name may sound familiar to you because his grandfather, Luigi Del Bianco, was the chief stone carver of Mount Rushmore. Now two generations later Lou garnished fame on his own for his voice recordings and narrations, so talented that he even made an appearance on “The Jimmy Fallon Show.” Lou Del Bianco documented his father’s historical stone carving career and has narrated many children’s books. Read this “We the Italians” interview with Lou about his book “Out of Rushmore’s Shadow: The Luigi Del Bianco Story.” In this YouTube video, watch “Mr. Lou" in action while entertaining elementary school children with his voice impressions and storytelling. (I look forward to Del Bianco’s program in my school later this month.)

Upcoming Events

Italians During Wartime America, Saturday, November 23, 2024, 3- 4 PM, Farmington, Connecticut Library, Jay Johnston Community Room, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington, CT 06032. An Italian-American author will discuss the experiences of Italians, including her grandparents, during World War II. For more information, go to the library’s website here.

Learn Italian Online

Learn more about the Italian-American Defense League.

Website: https://iadlnow.org/

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X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en

Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/

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