IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – February 22, 2026 – GAE Committee Does Not Raise Connecticut Italian-American HERI
IADL and like-minded organizations made a final push to the Government Administration and Elections Committee in Connecticut, asking committee members to take action on Senate Bill 1162, “An Act Establishing a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission.” During the 2025 session, the bill was introduced with bipartisan support by Ryan Fazio, Chis Aniskovich, MJ Shannon, and Paul Cicarella. This year we received more communication from legislators than ever before. Last week Aniskovich, Fazio, and new supporter, Rob Sampson, requested that the GAE committee introduce and raise the bill by including it on Friday’s GAE Committee agenda; however, the Democrat-led committee chose not to.
Some have said the reason for excluding the Italian-American Heritage Commission bill is because of this year’s short session; however, the GAE committee added a “Resolution Recognizing Native American Stewardship” to the agenda. To add insult to injury, Connecticut’s Trade Committee introduced and raised legislation for “An Act Establishing the Connecticut-Germany Trade Commission” and “An Act Establishing a Connecticut-India Trade Commission.” Last year, our bill which will include a trade component died in the Commerce Committee without receiving a public hearing. Despite these setbacks, some progress has been made. We thank the legislators and their staff who support “An Act Establishing a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission” by receiving our requests with respect and committing to act on the bill in the future. Now we must organize to pass this bill in 2027!
Olympic Update
Italy ends Saturday at the Winter Olympics having its best performance ever with 30 medals, including 10 that are gold. The results place Italy in the top 3 countries at the game, with the United States outpacing them by 2 medals by the end of the day. People of Italian descent are winning for both countries. By winning an additional 3 medals, Arianna Fontana, a speed skater, has become Italy’s most decorated Olympian, now with a total of fourteen medals. Fontana surpassed Edoardo Mangiarotti, a fencing champion, who passed away at age 93 in 2012. Read about Fontana’s reaction to her now legendary status and watch a video clip leading up to her 2026 appearance at the Olympics here.
Described as the “Prima Ballerina” of American figure skating, a New Jersey Italian-American figure skater Isabeau Levito made her Olympic debut skating to 'Almost In Your Arms' and 'Zou Bisou Bisou' in her Sophia Loren-inspired short program. Levito finished in 8th place. Her mother, a native of Milan, proudly watched from the stands. Watch her performance here. Now get an inside look into Levito’s family as she visits her Nonna’s home thirteen miles from the Milano Olympic arena. Levito speaks Italian and embraces her Italian heritage in this short video.
In “La famiglia è tutto: Meet the Team USA athletes with Italian heritage,” read about three American Olympic athletes who speak about their Italian roots: Snowboarder Allesandro Barbieri, Skier Alex Hall (Silver Medalist), and Hockey Player Vincent Trocheck who will play for gold today!
Italian Heritage News
Skier Vonn's Italian hospital a hotbed of men, sister says
If you are single and looking for a man, visit an Italian hospital, according to the injured Olympic skier's sister.
Christian Pulisic shares Italian food rules for Americans in Milan for the Olympics
Pulisic, a forward for legendary Serie A club AC Milan, is quite possibly the most famous American living in Milan today.
Springfield Italian deli closes for good after 58 years
Like many Italian family-owned businesses that are fixtures of neighborhoods in New England, Milano’s closes for good after nearly six decades.
Italian-American Events
Solidarity Session - Join the Italian-American One Voice Coalition and Native American Guardian’s Association at its next Solidarity Session on Tuesday, February 24 at 8 pm. The guest speaker will be trial attorney and former State Senator, Chap Petersen of Chap Petersen & Associates of Virginia. He represents NAGA's effort to bring their case to the Supreme Court, aiming to stop the removal of Native names and images. This is a fundamental issue that, similar to IAOVC's federal Columbus suit, can have far reaching benefits for all of us. Sign up for this free online event here.
Legal Fund
IADL has 212 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
Seal of the Connecticut General Assembly
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – February 15, 2026 – February Holidays and Keep Pushing for SB 1162
With Presidents Day on Monday, Newsweek Columnist Lee Habeeb cowrote, “Story of George Washington and Italian Immigrant Painter Who Honored Him,” with Lee Rizzuto, former board member of the National Italian American Foundation. They describe Constantino Brumidi as the American Michelangelo who portrayed George Washington as God-like on the dome above the Capitol’s rotunda, saying he expressed, “his reverence for Washington–and the nation that adopted him—not with a pen but paint and paintbrush.” Read the entire column here.
Italian Heritage News
History of Carnevale and Italy’s Best Parades.
The History of Carnevale and some of Italy’s best Parades: A tradition adopted from pagans as Italian Catholics ready for Lent.
Olympic Update
Italy continues to outperform any prior Winter Olympic appearances by already winning 18 medals, second only to Norway with 6 gold, 3 silver, and 9 bronze medals at the end of February 14th events. Italy is excelling with 2 golds in luge, 2 golds in speed skating, 1 gold in alpine skiing, and 1 gold in short track. The silvers were won in alpine skiing, biathlon, and short track. Bronze medals were won in figure skating, curling, snowboarding, luge, speed skating, and alpine skiing.
Italy’s gold medal winners are Francesca Lollobrigida in Speed Skating (3000 m) and Speed Skating (5000 m); Short Track Relay Team – Mixed relay (Fontana, Confortola, Betti, Sighel, Nadalini); Andrea Voetter & Marion Oberhofer in Luge doubles (female); Emanuel Rieder & Simon Kainzwaldner in Luge doubles (male); and Federica Brignone in Alpine Skiing (Super-G).
Italian Carnevale Event Today, February 15, 2026
Italian Carnevale at the Italian American Bocce Club in East Haven, CT from 1-6 PM. Put on your finest masks and step into a world of magic and mystery as we celebrate the vibrant tradition of Italian Carnevale. Live Music and Entertainment, Masquerade Contest, Carnevale Slide Show Presentation by Laura Parisi, and Dancing. Address: 509 Laurel Street, East Haven, Connecticut 06512. Adults- $20, Children under 5 – Free. Call Sue Ianniello for tickets and more information at (203) 218-9568 or the Club at (203) 468-8388.
Take Action on SB1162 An Act to Establish an Italian American Heritage Commission in Connecticut
Italian-American Defense League is working on getting a bill passed in the CT legislature that would create an Italian-American Heritage Commission. This commission would foster the cultural identity of Italians and Italian-Americans through public education that counters stereotypes and highlights the significant achievements of people of Italian heritage, both past and present. We have drafted an email, so all that you need to do is cut and paste, add your name at the bottom and then send.
You can also send an email to Ryan Fazio, Chris Aniskovich, MJ Shannon, and Paul Cicarella to thank them for co-sponsoring the bill and to keep pushing it forward.
chris.aniskovich@housegop.ct.gov
Thank you for your time and attention to this important initiative.
The subject line in the email is: Take Action on Senate Bill 1162 An Act Establishing the Italian-American Heritage Commission
Contact these nineteen members of Connecticut's Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) to take action on SB1162: An Act to Establish the Italian-American Heritage Commission. Also contact your own state senator and state representative to co-sponsor and support the bill.
EMAIL TEMPLATE
Cut and paste email addresses:
Christie.Carpino@housegop.ct.gov
martin.foncello@housegop.ct.gov
Gale.Mastrofrancesco@housegop.ct.gov
christopher.Rosario@cga.ct.gov
Cut and paste the following text.
Dear GAE Committee Members,
Last year Senate Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Italian-American Heritage Commission was introduced into the legislative process. As members of the GAE committee, we urge you to take action on this bill immediately. The Italian-American Heritage Commission will have a major impact on cultural and historic preservation, education, and commerce in Connecticut. People of Italian descent have contributed to every aspect of life in our State for 150 years and deserve a seat at the table in Hartford. Not only will Italian Americans benefit, but so will all citizens of Connecticut.
Legal Fund
IADL has 212 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
Apotheosis of Washington: Painted in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi in the US Capitol
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – February 8, 2026 – Take Action on Senate Bill 1162 An Act Establishing the Italian
Italian-American Defense League is working on getting a bill passed in the CT legislature that would create an Italian-American Heritage Commission. This commission would foster the cultural identity of Italians and Italian-Americans through public education that counters stereotypes and highlights the significant achievements of people of Italian heritage, both past and present. We have drafted an email, so all that you need to do is cut and paste, add your name at the bottom and then send. Thank you for your time and attention to this important initiative.
The subject line in the email is: Take Action on Senate Bill 1162 An Act Establishing the Italian-American Heritage Commission
Contact these nineteen members of Connecticut's Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) to take action on SB1162: An Act to Establish the Italian-American Heritage Commission. Also contact your own state senator and state representative to co-sponsor and support the bill.
EMAIL TEMPLATE
Cut and paste email addresses:
Christie.Carpino@housegop.ct.gov
martin.foncello@housegop.ct.gov
Gale.Mastrofrancesco@housegop.ct.gov
christopher.Rosario@cga.ct.gov
Cut and paste the following text.
RE: Take Action on Senate Bill 1162 An Act Establishing the Italian-American Heritage Commission
Dear GAE Committee Members,
Last year Senate Bill 1162: An Act Establishing the Italian-American Heritage Commission was introduced into the legislative process. As members of the GAE committee, we urge you to take action on this bill immediately. The Italian-American Heritage Commission will have a major impact on cultural and historic preservation, education, and commerce in Connecticut. People of Italian descent have contributed to every aspect of life in our State for 150 years and deserve a seat at the table in Hartford. Not only will Italian Americans benefit, but so will all citizens of Connecticut.
Your Name
Town/City
Legal Fund
IADL has 212 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Modern Magnificence of Milano at Italia’s Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony at the 2026 Olympic games in Milano and Cortina displayed beauty, music, dance, art, comedy, and innovation, staying true to Italian values at their finest. Ancient Roman sculptures, spiral designs representing fortifications, architecture of Il Duomo, and primary colors flowing from the sky were on visual display. Performances by Mariah Carey singing Volare and Charlize Theron speaking about Nelson Mandela’s message of peace showcase Italy’s special relationships with the United States and Africa. Viewers couldn’t help noticing the dual nature of Italy’s femininity of elegance and strength by the lead performers, and the masculine power and grace of the male dancers on stage. Bringing modern listeners to an awe-inspiring operatic performance and to the modern musical icon, Andrea Bocelli, athletes and viewers witnessed moving performances. Ending with Alberto Tomba lighting the Olympic torch gave a nod to Italy’s Olympic history. Hopefully, the fireworks blazing in the Milano sky represent a love and passion for Italian culture that a new generation will embrace.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
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IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – February 1, 2026 – Goals and Groundhogs
IADL’s Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, Connecticut. Important decisions were made at the meeting, including the approval of new board members, adoption of strategic goals, review of financial reports, and finetuning sections of our bylaws and mission statement.
At the meeting, vacancies on the board of directors and offices were filled with: Matthew Guarnieri, president, Kenneth Ciardiello, vice president, David Generoso, treasurer, James Urbano, clerk, Fran Calzetta, director, Maureen Franco, director, Frank Grazioso, director, Buddy Prete, director, and Louis Ritucci, director. Our current board will finish the last year of a three-year term in 2026. I would like to express special gratitude and appreciation to Vincent Angelino, IADL’s founding treasurer. Five years ago, Vince believed in an idea and helped make it a reality. He’s been passionate about achieving IADL’s mission, while giving the IADL prudent financial advice, valuing every dollar. Maybe the highlight of our time on the board of directors is driving the yellow 1948 Buick Super convertible at the Bridgeport Columbus Day parade. Frank Grazioso’s old beauty!
To best fulfill our mission in 2026, it was determined that IADL would focus on the following three goals.
- Build coalitions and reignite the Connecticut Council of Italian American Organizations.
- Consider and take action based on legal recommendations and advice.
- Advocate for the adoption of a Connecticut Italian Heritage Commission.
We encourage each IADL member to participate in at least one activity this year. From online Solidarity Sessions to Columbus Day events, opportunities to embrace Italian heritage are available near and far. Italian heritage is not a thing of the past, but vibrant and lively today. Italian heritage does not belong in private museums showcasing past centuries; it belongs in the public forefront. Together, we can return removed Columbus statues to public space.
The following are changes to our Bylaws (1) and Mission Statement (2):
(1) Article VII – Officers: Section 8. Directors. The number of IADL Directors shall be 9, which shall include 4 officers. [Replacing: The number of IADL Directors on the BOD shall not be fewer than 2 and as many as three officers plus 2 or more Directors.]
(2) IADL promotes the mutual cooperation among its members, reinforces social welfare ideals with community involvement, and preserves the historical significance and achievements of people of Italian descent. [IADL promotes the mutual cooperation among its members, reinforces social welfare ideals with community involvement, and preserves the historical significance and achievements of Italians and Italian Americans, and other ethnic groups.]
Let’s continue this journey together! Proseguiamo questo viaggio insieme.
Legal Fund
IADL has 212 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
We the Italians Online Magazine – January 2026 #195 - Olympic Preview
Umberto Mucci, founder of We the Italians, graciously shares his online magazine, free of charge. The January 2026 edition includes 130 pages and an accompanying podcast. Read about Lombardia, Veneto, Liguria, Sardinia, Apulia, Lazio, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, Tuscany, Calabria, Trentino Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna, Campania, Umbria, and Abruzzo.
Whoopi Goldberg Is Currently Starring in an Italian Soap Opera
The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony (EGOT) winner has joined the cast of the long-running Italian soap A Place in the Sun. But, according to VF Italia, not everyone in Italy is thrilled that Goldberg has joined the show.
Italy investigates church painting of angel restored to look like Meloni
A restored angel fresco is the object of controversy over an alleged resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Italian Ground Hog Day-Like Traditions
I Giorni della Merla (The Blackbird Days): Falls on January 29, 30, and 31. These are considered the coldest days of the year. According to legend, if these days are cold, spring will be beautiful. If they are warm, spring will arrive late.
La Candelora (Candlemas - February 2nd): This date marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Tradition says: "Per la santa Candelora, se nevica o se plora, dell'inverno siamo fuora, S'egli è sole o solicello, siamo ancora a mezzo il verno." (If it snows or rains, winter is over. If it is sunny, we are still in the middle of winter).
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
IADL's leadership team changed in 2026 with the addition of two directors.
IADL Newsletter
January 25, 2026 – Two Important Events
We have two important events to attend this week, one virtual on Zoom and IADL’s Annual Meeting in person.
The Italian American One Voice Coalition and Native American Guardian’s Association invite you to register for the first Solidarity Session of 2026. The meeting is on Zoom on Tuesday, January 27th at 8 PM. There will be important updates on the legal front from both NAGA and IAOVC on each of their landmark federal lawsuits. Andre Dimino, IOAVC president says, “I hope to see you next Tuesday! Please ask others to join us as we continue to support and defend our respective heritages in unity!”
Italian-American Defense League board members invite you to attend IADL’s annual meeting: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. Mike Guarnieri, CPA and Auditor, will give a brief overview of pros and cons of changing IADL’s tax status to a 501c3 nonprofit. Please RSVP to attend the Annual Meeting using this link. If you have already emailed us, you do not need to reply again. IADL reserved a private room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests may order from the diner's menu with entrees between $10 and $20. Business will be conducted during dinner. Dress casually. IADL members have voting rights at the meeting. You are welcome to bring a nonmember to join. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512. Click here for the Google map. We will discuss our current legal effort, mission statement, bylaws, and federal tax designation. A full agenda will be emailed before the meeting.
Italian American Future Leaders Conference
The fourth annual Italian American Future Leaders Conference (IAFL4) took place last week in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. More than 350 young Italian American professionals ages 21–35 met for four days of leadership training, cultural exploration, and community building. The conference was held Jan. 16–19, offering workshops on nonprofit leadership, ancestry and dual citizenship, digital storytelling, and strategies for preserving and promoting Italian American heritage.
Among the delegates was Joseph Catanzaro, who attended on behalf of the Italian-American Defense League. He reported that the experience deepened his understanding of how younger generations can carry forward Italian American traditions and expressed his enthusiasm for organizing events that would attract more young people. He said the experience was amazing and he hopes to attend as an alumnus next year. COPOMIAO funded the hotel, food, and entertainment for the event and is beginning to plan for IAFL5 next year. If you or someone you know will be ages 21-35 next year and is interested in attending, please contact IADL. For more information visit: https://www.iafuture.org/ .
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
Italian American Future Leaders Convenes National Delegation as Cultural Movement Gains Momentum
Held annually in South Florida, the "IAFL" Convention has emerged as a catalyst in elevating the next generation in both collaborative and independent cultural leadership and engagement.
The Italian Soup I Learned from My Nonna Is Still My Go-To Sick-Day Remedy
Pastina is the simple Italian soup my family swears by when sore throats, sniffles, and winter blues hit.
‘Falling Through the New World’ Explores Italian-American Family Saga
Video Interview and Article: The author says her inspiration came from a fascination with her personal history as the American granddaughter of Italian immigrants and the events that spurred that history—World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.
Gregory Bovino’s Net Worth, Ethnicity, Border Patrol Leadership and His Commanding Role in ICE
Gregory Bovino's story begins in the rural landscapes of North Carolina, where he was raised in an Italian American family that valued hard work and assimilation.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
Italian American Future Leaders delegates at Amerant Bank Arena in Ft. Lauderdale, Jan. 16-19 2026.
IADL Newsletter
January 18, 2026 - Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Those words written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail resonate today as well as during the Civil Rights Movement. The words speak to every moment when a community’s history, identity, or dignity is erased in the name of expediency or politics. They apply directly to what happened at Wooster Square in New Haven on June 24, 2020, when the Christopher Columbus statue was removed from its pedestal where it stood since October 21, 1892. Suddenly and without public input, families, descendants, and heritage organizations were ignored, while a party politician and his allies exerted their power.
The destruction of the historical site was not “a reassessment of history,” but an injustice to the immigrants who dedicated the statue and rallied around it for generations. The historic site was forever altered, which is an affront to historical preservation and the people who felt a personal connection to the public space.
Italians were among the most despised groups in America when the monument was erected. They were considered poor, Catholic, and racially inferior to the Northern European and Protestant establishment. Discrimination in housing, employment, and education is well documented. In 1891, eleven Italian immigrants were lynched by an angry mob in New Orleans, making international news. In New Haven, thirty-five Italian men met to denounce the lynchers. Dr. Botello, an Italian physician, and Donato Vece, a barber, were among those at the meeting, which led to a massive Columbus Day celebration in New Haven the following year.
On October 11, 1892, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the landing of Columbus, thousands took part in a parade, which extended for miles. On the following evening several local Italian societies sponsored the laying of the cornerstone of a statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square on Chapel Street, overlooking New Haven harbor, which at that time came up to Water Street. Paolo Russo unveiled and presented the monument to the city on October 21, 1892, and it was paid for by contributions from Italian Americans. Russo stated that the Columbus monument was “to be presented through you, Mr. Mayor [Joseph Sargent] to the citizens of New Haven, and in their name and behalf I, who have been selected to perform this pleasant duty, formally tender the same and to remain here forever.” In a climate of discrimination and struggle, Italian immigrants stood with cultural pride when honoring Christopher Columbus, a son of Italy who discovered America.
For generations, the monument stood as a silent companion to Italian immigrants and Italian Americans, affirming their presence in the community through pivotal and often turbulent moments in their history — from harassment by the Ku Klux Klan and forced sterilizations under the eugenics movement, to the restrictive Immigration Act of 1924, participation in the labor movement, sacrifices during World War II amid being labeled ‘Enemy Aliens,’ the shock of the assassination of the nation’s first Catholic president, and the 1992 National Council of Ministers resolution opposing Columbus Day, which was a catalyst for the modern anti-Columbus movement.
All of this context was erased in June 2020, when the Columbus statue was removed under political pressure and during a moment of national upheaval. A rapidly shifting narrative overshadowed the Italian American story. No public hearing gave Italian American matriarchs and patriarchs a chance to speak. No historical commission weighed in on the matter. The monument’s long existence and the heritage it embodied simply vanished while a crowd of powerless and distressed Italian Americans observed the statue’s removal in front of their very own eyes – a cultural and historical lynching.
This is precisely what Dr. King warned us about. When any community’s story is silenced, when any group’s voice is excluded, when history is rewritten without the participation of those who lived it, justice everywhere is diminished. Removing the statue did not right a wrong. It replaced one narrative of erasure with another. The Columbus statue in Wooster Square was not a symbol of oppression. It was a vow made by hardworking immigrants that they and their children and grandchildren belonged here.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” If the Columbus statue remains hidden in private custody, which community’s heritage and history will be erased next?
Events
Italian-American Defense League board members invite you to attend IADL’s annual meeting: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. IADL reserved a private room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests may order from the diner's menu with entrees between $10 and $20. Business will be conducted during dinner. Dress casually. IADL members have voting rights at the meeting. You are welcome to bring a nonmember to join. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512. https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2J5ErBnMZrHBa396 . We will discuss our current legal effort, mission statement, bylaws, and federal tax designation. A full agenda will be emailed before the meeting.
Please RSVP to attend the Annual Meeting using this link. If you have already emailed us, you do not need to reply again.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
The founder of Mediacom, he was also a minority owner of the New York Cosmos.
Farewell to Tony Dallara, Giant of Italian Music
In 1960, he triumphed at Sanremo with “Romantica.” He was the first of the “urlatori”
Italy urges NATO to coordinate in Arctic as Greenland tensions escalate
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urges NATO to develop "a coordinated presence" in Greenland.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
June 24, 2020 - Columbus statue removed from Wooster Square in New Haven
IADL Newsletter
January 11, 2026 - Annual Meeting Invitation & Mission Statement
Italian-American Defense League board members invite you to attend IADL’s annual meeting: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. IADL reserved a private room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests may order from the diner's menu with entrees between $10 and $20. Business will be conducted during dinner. Dress casually. IADL members have voting rights at the meeting. You are welcome to bring a nonmember to join. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512. https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2J5ErBnMZrHBa396 . We will discuss our current legal effort, mission statement, bylaws, and federal tax designation. A full agenda will be emailed before the meeting.
Please RSVP to attend the Annual Meeting using this link. If you have already emailed us, you do not need to reply again.
Mission Statement
Please review IADL’s mission statement, a very important document, which explains why our organization exists and guides our decision making. We will discuss the mission statement at our annual meeting. One minor change is included below in brackets and bold type, which can be voted on.
The Italian-American Defense League (IADL) supports education, portrays Italians positively, and preserves cultural traditions. IADL promotes the preservation of Italian-American heritage and customs.
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the American establishment viewed Italian Americans as foreigners or second-class citizens. White supremacists attacked Italian Americans through lynching, discrimination, and inequitable wage practices. Today, Italian Americans are unfairly portrayed as mobsters, despite endless examples of Italian contributions to the civilized world.
Anti-Italianism persists into the twenty-first century as Christopher Columbus statues are defaced and removed, and as Columbus Day is being eliminated or changed to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, while facts and the Italian-American experience are ignored.
Admiral Christopher Columbus is accused of crimes committed by his political adversaries and governors after him. Columbus never acted unjustly and is the first civil rights activist of the New World by advocating for the rights of Indigenous people. Evidence shows that Columbus wanted to convert Native Americans through teaching, not the sword. By papal law in the fifteenth century, once people converted to Christianity, it was illegal to enslave them. Christopher Columbus was a hero, and that is why the son of Genoa was a chosen historical figure of the American government to embrace Italian immigrants as Americans in response to bias and discrimination.
The Italian-American Defense League is against racism and is a nondiscriminatory organization. IADL supports Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but not in place of Columbus Day. IADL supports multiculturalism and civil rights, but not at the expense of Italian Americans. It stands against discrimination against Italians and Italian Americans as well as discrimination against people of other ethnic or racial groups.
IADL promotes mutual cooperation among its members, reinforces social welfare ideals with community involvement, and preserves the historical significance and achievements of Italians and Italian Americans, and other ethnic groups. [Replace “Italians and Italian Americans as well as discrimination against people of other ethnic or racial groups” with “people of Italian descent and all Americans.”]
IADL serves as an educational and advocacy group to local, state, or federal authorities and to the private sector on matters of interest to Italians and Italian Americans. It also organizes educational and cultural programs.
Adopted 1/25/2021, Updated 2/16/2021, Updated 12/2/2021
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
Italy names Sicily air base as first F-35 pilot school outside US
Italy has formally announced an air force base in Sicily is to become the first F-35 training school outside the United States, reflecting a growth in demand for pilot training after fresh orders of the jet in Europe.
Italy’s Meloni rules out US military move on Greenland and urges stronger NATO role in Arctic
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she didn’t believe the United States would resort to military force to seize control of Greenland, urging a stronger role for NATO in the Arctic region to address U.S. security concerns.
Italy’s most unsung town, with La Serenissima views and its own Cipriani
From its hilltop position in the Veneto, Asolo offers the low-key charms of a town with echoes of Venice yet unspoiled by tourism.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
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A presto!
IADL Newsletter
January 4, 2026 – Year in Review
This week’s newsletter is a review of IADL’s activities in 2025. The Italian-American Defense League (IADL) exists to defend, preserve, and advance Italian-American history, heritage, and civil rights. During the past year, through advocacy, education, coalition-building, and cultural engagement, IADL worked to promote education, portray Italians positively, and preserve traditions including Columbus Day. The year 2025 was a defining year for the Italian-American Defense League. It was marked by sustained legal advocacy, expanding legislative engagement, and unprecedented coalition-building among Italian-American organizations.
Advocacy
In January 2025, IADL formally filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, challenging a district court decision that the organization believes undermined rights of Plaintiff Ralph Marcarelli and members of the IADL following the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square Park in New Haven, Connecticut.
In February 2025, IADL announced and actively promoted the introduction of Connecticut Senate Bill 1162, which calls for the establishment of a Connecticut Italian-American Heritage Commission. The bill was introduced to the Joint Committee of Commerce by Senator Ryan Fazio and Representative Chris Aniskovich. The bill was co-sponsored by Representative Michael “MJ” Shannon and Senator Paul Cicarella.
IADL’s press release announcing the bill and explaining its significance was widely circulated. It was published by We the Italians, a leading Italian-American publication, as well as by GIA: Giornale Italo Americano, a bilingual newspaper with reach throughout the Northeast United States, Florida, and Europe.
In February, IADL’s president spoke before the prestigious Amity Club of Italian business leaders in the New Haven area. The name of the organization reflects the union of America and Italy in friendship. In March, IADL conducted an interview with theater choreographer Maria Lonetti, highlighting Italian-American contributions to the arts and reinforcing IADL’s commitment to cultural storytelling beyond politics and litigation.
In May, IADL participated in the Italian American Alliance Annual Meeting in Watertown, Massachusetts. The Alliance reaffirmed its belief that all cultures are an integral part of America and deserve equal respect. IADL strongly aligned with the Alliance’s position that Christopher Columbus is both an historic Italian figure and a key figure in American and world history during the Age of Discovery. The meeting featured guest speaker Mark OneWolf Yancey of the Native American Guardian’s Association, underscoring IADL’s continued commitment to dialogue, education, and mutual respect rather than erasure of history.
In June, IADL represented its members at the COPOMIAO Annual Meeting in New York City. The gathering brought together 75 Italian heritage organizations, marking one of the largest and most unified assemblies of Italian-American organizations in history. IADL was proud to stand among this unprecedented coalition. Later in the month, IADL’s president had the honor of presenting at the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) Connecticut State Convention in Derby, Connecticut. This engagement reinforced IADL’s role as a leading voice within Connecticut’s Italian-American community. In the last newsletter of the month, IADL outlined next steps for engagement with the Connecticut Council of American Italian Organizations, further strengthening statewide collaboration.
In July 2025, IADL sent a formal letter to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller of Newton, Massachusetts, objecting to the elimination of the red, white, and green stripe from a city roadway—an act viewed as dismissive of Italian-American heritage. That same month, IADL met with New London Mayor Michael Passero regarding the removal of the city’s Christopher Columbus statue. Mayor Passero assured IADL that the statue, dedicated on October 12, 1928, is preserved and stored safely. While no final resolution was reached, the meeting represented meaningful progress through dialogue.
Cultural Education, Programming, and Events
From August through the end of the year, IADL reaffirmed its dedication to its mission through hosting and participating in a variety of events. In August, IADL hosted a screening of the Max Corvo for Freedom Docudrama at OSDIA in Derby, Connecticut. In September, IADL created a cultural outreach table at the Italian Festival in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. In October, IADL hosted a Columbus ceremony in Clinton, CT and a Wreath Laying Ceremony in New Haven, CT. IADL participated in the Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade. Members participated in Hartford UNICO’s Italian night at the Hartford Athletics soccer match. In November, IADL proudly announced that Joseph Catanzaro was accepted to attend the Italian American Future Leaders Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida—an important milestone in fostering the next generation of Italian-American leadership.
Communication and Opportunities
In IADL’s weekly newsletter, members were informed of opportunities to join monthly Solidarity Sessions between Native Americans and Italian-Americans, hosted by IAOVC and NAGA. Members received notifications of cultural events across Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, New Britain, and other communities in Connecticut and the Tri-State area. Information was available to participate in online classes and heritage programming. IADL consistently updates its website and X social media page. The newsletter provides education, advocacy, current events, and news.
Public Advocacy and Anti-Defamation Efforts
In 2025, IADL continued its outreach to cultural organizations, government officials, and media outlets. Letters and advocacy communications were sent to President Donald J. Trump and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro advocating for Italian heritage, monuments, and recognition. Fox Sports, M&T Bank, Cinemark, and Vanity Fair received letters to address instances of anti-Italian bias and stereotyping. IADL sent coalition building letters to Portuguese and Hispanic heritage organizations.
Looking Ahead
As the Italian-American Defense League enters 2026, it will continue its advocacy, education, and coalition building. IADL, with the continued support of its members, Board, and allies, will move forward, and finish what we started resolutely, respectfully, and rightfully.
Join Us For IADL’s Annual Meeting Dinner- Set Goals for the New Year
Italian-American Defense League board members look forward to seeing you at our annual meeting: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. IADL reserved a private room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests may order from the diner's menu with entrees between $10 and $20. Business will be conducted during dinner. Dress casually. IADL members have voting rights at the meeting. You are welcome to bring a nonmember to join. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512. https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2J5ErBnMZrHBa396
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
US slashes proposed tariffs on Italian pasta imports
The Italian foreign ministry said the proposed rate had now been drastically cut back.
At least six people injured and 100 evacuated after Italy cable car crash
There have been several serious cable car accidents in Italy in recent years.
Worth their salt: Little Italy history tells of a proud, hardworking people
This is part two of a three-part series about the Little Italy Nature Preserve in the Town of York.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
IADL Newsletter
December 28, 2025 – Legal Update and New Path Forward
I am writing to provide an update regarding our ongoing legal efforts, recent developments, and our next steps moving forward into the new year.
For the past three years, IADL has pursued litigation to challenge the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in New Haven and to defend the constitutional and legal rights of Italian Americans and all citizens to preserve our historical and cultural dignity. Our case raised significant questions about due process, standing, property rights, and liberty rights. Our legal arguments did not solely focus on equal protection under the fourteenth amendment and discrimination against an ethnic group, but also incorporated other legal concepts, such as aesthetic standing.
As you already know, our case proceeded through the federal courts, including an appeal to United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. While the federal court sided with our arguments that we have standing, the court believed IADL lacked property or liberty rights. Without those rights, it did not matter to the court that due process was not followed when the Columbus statue was removed. Though we did not win, Mayor Justin Elicker’s deposition shows that he acted rashly, without public input, while admitting to knowing very little about history, preserving a record of his ignorance and derision of Italian American heritage.
Although culturally significant monuments are protected by federal and state law, we lost our appeal. At this time, we wish to inform our members and donors that Attorney Norm Pattis will no longer be representing the Italian-American Defense League. We thank Pattis and members of his legal team for their work on our lower and federal court cases.
Importantly, this is not the end of our efforts to return the Christopher Columbus statue to public view in New Haven, nor is it the end of our legal fight! Rather than exclusively relying on the federal system, IADL is seeking to utilize Connecticut State Law, including claims under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), and related statutory protections. CEPA protects citizens from government actions that harm public trust, historical and cultural resources, and community interests, especially when protecting a designated historical district.
The next phase will take careful preparation, planning, and continued support from our community. We remain fully committed to defending Italian American heritage and that no ethnic group is singled out or canceled, especially by politically expedient politicians.
We are deeply grateful for your continued trust, engagement, and financial support. Further updates will be given as we advance to the next stage of this journey. We are currently seeking an attorney or firm experienced in Connecticut state litigation who shares our commitment to justice, fairness, and the responsible stewardship of historic and cultural resources.
Now is the time!
Join Us For IADL’s Annual Meeting Dinner- Set Goals for the New Year
Italian-American Defense League board members look forward to seeing you at our annual meeting: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. IADL reserved a private room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests may order from the diner's menu with entrees between $10 and $20. Business will be conducted during dinner. Dress casually. IADL members have voting rights at the meeting. You are welcome to bring a nonmember to join. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512. https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2J5ErBnMZrHBa396
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about your Italian heritage, Columbus Day, or what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name and town.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
Divine messengers: Italian nuns’ social media posts go viral
Revelation of Instagram spurs retired Catholic devotees in Abruzzo to gain millions of views with upbeat videos.
A classic Italian cookbook finally gets a full English translation
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with publisher Michael Szczerban about the new full English translation of the classic Italian cookbook, The Talisaman of Happiness by Ada Boni.
Italian leader Giorgia Meloni gives year-end assessment
“The end of 2025 has been difficult — next year will be much worse.”
6 Italian New Year’s Eve Traditions You Should Try
Many of these traditions are interesting enough to try, even if you’re not Italian.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
IADL Newsletter
December 21, 2025 – A Christopher Columbus Christmas (1492)
Read to take a journey back in time, 533 years. During the days before Christmas 1492, Christopher Columbus explored the islands of the Caribbean Sea, docking along shore and befriending island natives. These interactions were characterized by curiosity, friendship, feasts, and trading. Columbus viewed the Taino Natives no differently than the Spaniards, children of God worthy to serve like himself under the rule of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. This excerpt from Columbus’s journal is from December 21, 1492. (Bartolomé De Las Casas wrote an account of Columbus’s journey, which these excerpts are taken from, years after the Admiral’s death.)
“On arriving where the Chief was waiting for him with many things to eat, he ordered that all the people should sit down, and that the food should be taken to the boats, where the Admiral was, on the seashore. When he saw that the Admiral had received what he sent, all or most of the Indians ran to the village, which was near, to bring more food, parrots, and other things they had, with such frankness of heart that it was marvelous. The Admiral gave them glass beads, brass trinkets, and bells: not because they asked for anything in return, but because it seemed right, and, above all, because he now looked upon them as future Christians, and subjects of the Sovereigns, as much as the people of Castille.”
Several days later into the early morning of Christmas Day, the Santa Maria sank due to high winds and a raging sea. Local Taino Chief Guacanagari ordered hundreds of his men to assist Columbus in saving the items onboard. Could Guacanagari be seeking an alliance against the evil Caribs? A day earlier on Christmas Eve, Columbus made a distinction between the local Taino tribe on Hispaniola and the Carib tribe from Cuba.
“Your Highnesses may believe that there is no better nor gentler people in the world. Your Highnesses ought to rejoice that they will soon become Christians, and that they will be taught the good customs of your kingdom. A better race there cannot be, and both the people and the lands are in such quantity that I know not how to write it I have spoken in the superlative degree of the country and people of Juana, which they call Cuba, but there is as much difference between them and this island and people as between day and night. I believe that no one who should see them could say less than I have said, and I repeat that the things and the great villages of this island of Espanola, which they call Bohio, are wonderful. All here have a loving manner and gentle speech, unlike the others, who seem to be menacing when they speak. Both men and women are of good stature, and not black.”
The reference of skin color could be made as a comparison of the Caribs to the Moors, enemies of Spain. His acceptance of the Taino as potential Christians disproves anti-Columbus racist claims. In Columbus’s world, there were allies and foes, Christians and their enemies. On Christmas Day, Columbus fondly describes his newly discovered Taino friends.
“They are a loving people, without covetousness, and fit for anything; and I assure your Highnesses that there is no better land, nor people. They love their neighbors as themselves, and their speech is the sweetest and gentlest in the world, and always with a smile. Men and women go as naked as when their mothers bore them. Your Highnesses should believe that they have very good customs among themselves. The king is a man of remarkable presence, and with a certain self-contained manner that is a pleasure to see.”
Columbus admired the humility and presence of Chief Guacanagari. According to the journal, the Chief stood with Columbus on the beach describing the brutality of the Caribs. Columbus, who believed that God’s divine hand guided the Admiral on his journeys did not accept that this meeting was a coincidence. He believed that the sinking of the Santa Maria was in God’s plan, for without it, he would not have met the local Taino Chief, whom Columbus held in high esteem. The fact that this unlikely encounter in human history occurred in the days preceding and following Christmas impacted the decision-making of Columbus. The Admiral of the Ocean Sea made this promise:
“The Admiral said, by signs, that the Sovereigns of Castille would order the Caribs to be destroyed, and that all should be taken with their heads tied together. He ordered a lombard and a hand-gun to be fired off, and seeing the effect caused by its force and what the shots penetrated, the king was astonished. When his people heard the explosion, they all fell on the ground. They brought the Admiral a large mask, which had pieces of gold for the eyes and ears and in other parts, and this they gave, with other trinkets of gold that the same king had put on the head and round the neck of the Admiral, and of other Christians, to whom they also gave many pieces. The Admiral received much pleasure and consolation from these things, which tempered the anxiety and sorrow he felt at the loss of the ship. He knew our Lord had caused the ship to stop here, that settlement might be formed."
Though a settlement was not part of Columbus’s original plans, timber from the Santa Maria was used to build shelter. Columbus left the Caribbean leaving members of his crew on Hispaniola by what he considered an act of God. The newly built fort was named La Navidad, the Nativity. According to De Las Casas’s account in “This History of the Indies,” Columbus left the Caribbean giving 39 men whom he left behind with the order of being respectful and revering Chief Guacanagari, demonstrating courage and strength, living virtuously, and this:
“Fourthly, he ordered them to do no harm or violence to any Indian man or woman or compel them to do anything against their will; above all, to refrain from any injury or violence to the women.”
The American Christmas of 1492 is the first story of faith, friendship, and thanksgiving among Europeans and Native Americans. Buon Natale!
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about your Italian heritage, Columbus Day, or what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name and town.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
An Italian American Heritage Month to remember
Chicago Italian Americans celebrate and honor our heritage with parades, parties, and Chazz Palminteri.
Letter to Fellow Italian Citizens in the Tri-State Area
Year-End Letter from Italy’s Consul General in New York, Fabrizio Di Michele
Rome introduces tourist fee for some Trevi fountain visitors
Starting Feb. 1, the city of Rome is imposing a 2-euro, or $2.35, fee for tourists to get close to the fountain during prime-time daylight hours.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
A historic meeting and frienbetween Christopher Columbus and Chief Guacanagari on Christmas Day 1492
IADL Newsletter
December 14, 2025 – Historical Preservation Fight at the White House
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States has sued the National Parks Service, President Donald Trump, and key officials for the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. Overall, the group accuses the administration of disregarding public input and federal environmental protection laws. Furthermore, they accuse the administration of taking unilateral action without required approval. I find this case particularly interesting because it mirrors the actions of local mayors of cities in Connecticut when they removed Columbus monuments in the Summer of 2020, and includes arguments that we asked our attorney to include in our lawsuit to return the Columbus statue to its plinth at Wooster Square in New Haven.
The lawsuit, which you can read in full here, states, “With its modest neoclassical design, the White House has served as a symbol of the United States for over two hundred years. In late October 2025, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the defendants in this action (together, “Defendants”) demolished the East Wing of the White House in order to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom (“Ballroom”) on its site (“Ballroom Project”). They did so without seeking approval from Congress; without requesting review and approval from the federal commissions charged with oversight of development in the nation’s capital; without conducting the required environmental studies; and without allowing the public any opportunity for input. Within days, the East Wing and its colonnade—a version of which was first built on the site during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson—were completely destroyed.”
Furthermore, the lawsuit includes argument that could describe the historical significance of New Haven’s Columbus monument,” By evading this required review, the Defendants are depriving the public of its right to be informed and its opportunity to comment on the Defendants’ proposed plans for the Ballroom Project. This public involvement, while important in all preservation matters, is particularly critical here, where the structure at issue is perhaps the most recognizable and historically significant building in the country.” Replace “Ballroom Project” with “Columbus statue removal” and include the historical significance of the Columbus monument to Connecticut’s immigration history, and we have a compelling argument for saving our Columbus monument. Of course, the details of the cases are different, but more than five years later, state and federally funded preservation groups which ignored historically significant Columbus monuments, are now fighting for historic preservation. Wealthy Italian Americans and powerful politicians remain silent.
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about Columbus Day and what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name and town.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
Russo Brothers and AGBO Crown ‘St. Joseph’ as Italian American Filmmaker Forum Winner (EXCLUSIVE)
Agbo and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) have named “St. Joseph,” directed by Maky Rupert, as the winner of the 2025 Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum, the eighth edition of the fellowship celebrating emerging voices exploring the Italian American experience.
'The Sopranos' actor to greet fans at opening of Ciao Italian-American Cafe in Rocky Hill
Ciao Cafe celebrated its grand opening Dec. 13 at the former Michel Angelo's Pizzeria space with special guest Joe Gannascoli of "The Sopranos."
Father Louis Scurti, 80, gifted more than 100 little wooden figurines of Jesus, handcrafted angels and antique Wise Men to the Italian American Museum in Lower Manhattan, in what he said was a “bittersweet” moment.
What Is The Feast Of The Seven Fishes Tradition?
The Feast of the Seven Dishes (Festa dei setta pesci) is a traditional Italian-American feast of seven (or more, or less) fish dishes on Christmas Eve.
This 93-Mile Italian Hike Leads to Medieval Monasteries—and Lunches Cooked by Nuns
The Via di Linari winds through the Apennines, passing abbeys, castles, and mountain towns. Here’s how to hike the Italian route. - by Allesio Perrone
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
Rendering of the exterior of the planned White House Ballroom. July 2025 Press Release.
IADL Newsletter
December 7, 2025 – New Orleans Lynchings Part Two
Part One of the Historical Speaker Series about the 1891 Lynchings in New Orleans was a huge success and now you have the opportunity to join us for Part Two on December 10th (7PM) on Zoom. We learned about the background and events leading to the lynchings of 11 Italian immigrants. Part Two will focus on the immediate and long-lasting implications of the injustice, including the first presidential proclamation of Columbus Day. You can register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fyC4MgB0SqmO2RjlpLGHAQ#/registration. Read more about this moment of history at https://www.britannica.com/event/New-Orleans-lynchings-of-1891 and get ready for Part Two. The presenter Sal Perricone, former FBI agent and now historian, has his book Cobblestones: A New Orleans Tragedy available for purchase on Amazon. Click here to buy this book which is the perfect Christmas present.
IADL Annual Meeting Questionnaire
We are currently planning our annual meeting. We invite IADL members to attend. Now we are requesting your feedback to improve attendance. Please reply or email iadlnow@yahoo.com .
- Would you like to attend a dinner at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, order a meal and conduct our business in a private room?
- Would you like to watch a film at the Clinton, CT library, and conduct business after the film?
- Would you like to attend the meeting remotely using ZOOM?
- Would you rather schedule the meeting for a weekday in the evening, or Saturday morning or afternoon on the weekend?
- Do you have a unique idea or location for the annual meeting?
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about Columbus Day and what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name and town.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Each week I select headlines that I think you’ll find interesting, entertaining, nostalgic, controversial, or even shocking. Enjoy!
WATCH: Trump praises Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli ahead of private concert at White House
President Donald Trump praised the voice of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Friday, following his performance at a ceremony held to mark the FIFA 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center.
The Italian American Veterans Monument, located beside the Statue of Christopher Columbus in Springfield’s South End, stands as a symbol of the enduring contributions of Italian Americans to both the city and the nation.
2 dead in stabbing at Italian deli in Bethpage, N.Y.
A man and woman were killed in a stabbing in Bethpage on Long Island, Nassau County police said.
Outcry in Italy over sex education bill to crack down on ‘gender ideology’
The bill, which the lower house of parliament has passed, allows the teaching of sex education in middle schools, for children aged 11-14, but only with written parental consent.
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merch in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. 12% goes to the IADL!
A presto!
Cobblestones: A New Orleans Tragedy available for purchase on Amazon..
IADL Newsletter
November 30, 2025 – Anti-Italian Bronin Running for Congress
In June 2020, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin announced that the city would remove its Christopher Columbus monument. Similar to other Democrat mayors in Connecticut cities, Bronin spoke for Italian Americans, who politically have no single voice. Like Mayor Justin Elicker in New Haven, Bronin is an outsider who attended Yale and moved to the city he became mayor of, showing a lack of respect for Italian Americans who played major roles in the city by removing an Italian heritage symbol.
Bronin was quoted saying, “When the statue of Columbus was erected in Hartford a hundred years ago, it was meant to symbolize the fact that Italian Americans, who had faced intense discrimination, had a place in the American story. But surely we can find a better way to honor the immense contributions of the Italian American community in our country and in our community. I’ll also be working with our Italian American community in Hartford and throughout the region to find an appropriate way to honor their incredibly important place in Hartford’s and our nation’s history.”
Bronin did not seek a third term in 2022 and now is running for Connecticut’s first congressional district seat by challenging Democrat incumbent John Larson. In a parallel universe, where people of Italian descent are organized politically, Bronin is a candidate whom we would organize against after he belittled our heritage and paid us with lip service and no follow through.
Vincenzo Miserendino (1875-1943), a Sicilian born artist, created the Columbus monument, which was dedicated on October 12, 1926, at Columbus Green in Hartford, Connecticut. The bronze statue depicts Christopher Columbus in a fifteenth century wardrobe, holding a scroll and standing upright with a globe at his feet. Presently the statue is in storage, and the pedestal remains in public view on Washington Street near the state capitol. Miserendino is famous for his bronze figures of U.S. presidents and influential figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, Guiseppe Garibaldi, Dante Alighieri, and Enrico Caruso. He studied art in Palermo and Rome before emigrating to the United States at nineteen years old.
Upcoming Event
IADL received feedback from several IADL members saying that they’ll attend this important lecture about the event that was the catalyst for Columbus Day. Join us for a Two-Part Historical Speaker Series about the 1891 Lynchings in New Orleans on December 3rd (7PM) and December 10th (7PM) on Zoom. Register for this free event here: 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fyC4MgB0SqmO2RjlpLGHAQ#/registration
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about Columbus Day and what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name and town.
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Scranton vigil calls for Columbus statue removal, honoring Indigenous communities instead
On Wednesday, at the Christopher Columbus statue in the square, numerous organizations participated in the remembrance gathering, including NEPA DSA, Coal & Steam Club CPUSA, Solidarity Television, NEPA for Palestine, NEPA Stands Up, Sunrise Scranton, the Green Party of Pennsylvania, the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Wyoming Valley, and others.
Meet the Man Who Beat SEPTA and Saved the Columbus and Rizzo Statues
On the heels of forcing SEPTA to cancel its drastic cuts, headline-making attorney George Bochetto prepares for new battles.
Lost in Translation: An American Friar Explains Thanksgiving in Italy
In Scripture, thanksgiving isn’t a suggestion. It’s a command. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever” (Psalm 118:1).
Macario scores twice to lead USWNT past Italy
It was the first of two friendlies between the teams, with the second scheduled for Monday in Fort Lauderdale.
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Sculptor Vincenzo Miserendino's, Columbus monument, dedicated 1926, Hartford, with pedestal in 2016
IADL Newsletter
November 23, 2025 – Making a Difference!
Mark One Wolf of the Native American Guardian’s Association was interviewed on a local radio station in Connecticut after he spoke to a school board in Connecticut that was changing its “Indian” name and imagery. That day I learned about NAGA and contacted its president, Tony Henson. By opening that dialogue, I learned that Italian Americans and Native Americans had a common foe – cancel culture. As Columbus statues were removed, the Washington Redskins name was changed, and the Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians. Many local school boards followed suit. Henson, realizing our common cause, wrote a letter to the IADL in favor of Columbus Day.
On October 9, 2021, Henson wrote, “On behalf of our national organization, we support your proposal to maintain the current Columbus Day holiday and designate another day to celebrate Indigenous People's Day. We believe that all races and historic figures should be celebrated for their contributions to our Nation.” Those words caught the attention of the Italian American Alliance and Italian American One Voice Coalition. Both organizations started their own dialogue with MAGA. Since then, NAGA representatives marched in Chicago’s Columbus Day parade, spoke at IAA’s annual meeting, had a reception with IAOVC members in New Jersey, and participated in online Solidarity Sessions. I never asked IADL to receive credit for being the catalyst to ignite this relationship, but I feel it is important for IADL members to know WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
Join Italian American groups and NAGA at this month’s Solidarity Session which will take place on Tuesday, 11/25/25 at 8 PM Eastern time. Register at www.thesolidaritysessions.com. Eunice and David Davidson of NAGA will share next steps on this important initiative. The guest speaker is Dr. Joseph Scelsa, Founder & President of the Italian American Museum of New York.
Another Upcoming Event
IADL received feedback from several IADL members saying that they’ll attend this important lecture about the event that was the catalyst for Columbus Day. Join us for a Two-Part Historical Speaker Series about the 1891 Lynchings in New Orleans on December 3rd (7PM) and December 10th (7PM) on Zoom. Register for this free event here: 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fyC4MgB0SqmO2RjlpLGHAQ#/registration
Testimonials!
IADL would love to hear your testimonials about Columbus Day and what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name. Next, read this IADL member’s testimonial:
I recall going to the Columbus Day Parade each year in the early 1960's. I recall in 1964 my uncle Gerry Aitro was the Grand Marshall. He was very active in the Democratic Party and was appointed by Mayor Lee as a Harbor Commissioner and later a Fire Commissioner. We would stand by the Community Bank & Trust Bank on the corner of Chapel & Olive St.
He was the owner of Genoa Ravioli Company located on Grand & Olive St. and was a successful businessman. We would go by the statue and see the flowers that were presented at its base.
I cannot believe it was taken away by persons who had no right to do this.
Ludwig Spinelli, Shelton,CT
Legal Fund
IADL has 213 members and 46 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Thank you to Umberto Mucci, founder of We the Italians. Mucci writes, “Please enjoy the 193rd edition of We the Italians online magazine, 139 pages about Italy, in English, for free. In this issue we talk about Abruzzo, Aosta Valley, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto and much, much more.” Click here to enjoy a pdf of the November 2025 edition. Or go to http://wetheitalians.com/magazine.
Basil Russo Recognized in San Francisco as a Pioneer of Italian American Unity
COPOMAIO’s president receives awards coast to coast.
Italian-American businesses demand Trump administration suspend tariffs
Concern grows that imported pasta prices could skyrocket.
Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day or just a regular Monday? It depends on where you are
Columbus Day is a federal holiday. Also, 30 states and three U.S. territories recognize Columbus Day in some form, based on a Pew Research Center review.
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Learn more at
IADL Newsletter
November 16, 2025 – Member Engagement
IADL members will have the unique opportunity to participate in an event from the comfort of their own homes. The Zoom presentation, a two-part series, will give you new insights into the Italian immigration experience in New Orleans. Read the description of the event below and I hope to see IADL members at the virtual event! Nonmembers may also attend.
Join Italian Charities of America for a two-part virtual presentation by Sal R. Perricone, former Federal Prosecutor and author of the newly released historical novel Cobblestones: A Novel of New Orleans. Sal Perricone will present the vigorous research he conducted for his novel regarding the historic tragic event of the 1891 lynchings of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans, the largest mass lynching in US history.
The first presentation will take place on December 3rd (7PM) when Sal Perricone will discuss the immigration that occurred in New Orleans’ history and how the city of New Orleans was structured before and during the immigration surge. He will then dive into the background of the 1891 lynchings, which includes what had occurred that led up to the trial and lynchings on March 14, 1891.
The second part of the presentation will take place on December 10th (7PM) in which Sal Perricone will discuss the legal, social, and other ramifications of the tragedy. We will explore the media coverage at the time of the 1891 lynchings along with the National and International clashes that occurred because of this tragic event. Sal will then explain the social consequences and changes that immediately followed and are still present today.
Join us for a Two-Part Historical Speaker Series of the 1891 Lynchings in New Orleans.
Register for this Free Event Here 👉
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fyC4MgB0SqmO2RjlpLGHAQ#/registration
Testimonials!
Recently, a Ph.D. student from Yale contacted me and asked me questions about New Haven’s Columbus statue and Columbus Day. Although I believe my thoughts on the subject are similar to other IADL members, that gave me an idea about how members can contribute to our newsletter. IADL would love to hear your testimonials about Columbus Day and what New Haven’s Columbus monument means to you. We would like to include your perspective in future publications. Please send your writing to iadlnow@yahoo.com. Write “Testimonial” in the subject of the email. Please include your name.
You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Let’s have our 211 members and 47 subscribers speak with one voice, una voce.
Italian Heritage News
Italian pasta producers warn steep duties would devastate US sales
The potential 107% levy has alarmed Italy, as 13 producers could face significant losses of their second-largest export market. - Mike Catalini, Giada Zampano, and Paul Wiseman
Honoring the Brave on Veterans Day
Millions of Italian Americans fought for our freedom, and many of our sons and daughters fight on today. God bless them and all those who have served our country.
- Tony Traficante, Lt. Colonel, US Army, (Ret.)
Italy vs. Norway: Gattuso confirms one starter and explains Calafiori and Tonali absence
The Azzurri are practically guaranteed to finish the group in second place, which means a place in the World Cup play-offs, unless they are able to defeat the currently unbeaten Norway by a nine-goal margin on Sunday. - Peter Young
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An angry mob breaks down the door of a New Orleans prison on March 14, 1891, lynching 11 Italians.
IADL Newsletter
November 9, 2025 – Connecticut Italian Future Leader
I am excited to announce that Joseph Catanzaro, IADL member, has been accepted to the Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) 2026 Convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This is the fourth year of the conference connecting young Italian American professionals across the United States, and this is the first year that IADL will be represented. Cristiana Dell’Anna, star of Cabrini, will be one of many inspiring speakers during a weekend full of events.
Joe Catanzaro is a public servant and community leader from Connecticut. Elected to public office at just 25 years old, he is the youngest public official in Plainville’s history. He currently serves on the Board of Parks and Recreation, where he champions initiatives that bring people together and enhance local quality of life.
Proud of his Italian heritage, he founded Festa Italiana, a community celebration honoring Italian culture and tradition. He also played a key role in preserving a Columbus statue in New Britain, a project that reflected his commitment to cultural heritage and civic engagement. His leadership and advocacy led him to become the President of the Italian American Alliance’s Connecticut Chapter, where he continues to represent and amplify the voices of Connecticut’s Italian American community.
Catanzaro states, “At 30, I remain deeply passionate about public service and civic pride. This year, I am honored to represent Connecticut’s Italian community at the IAFL (Italian American Future Leaders) event, reflecting my ongoing mission to build bridges between generations and communities while preserving the traditions that shape our shared identity.” IADL looks forward to Catanzaro's participation in IAFL.
No Kings in Connecticut: Donate Now!
Our 90-day window to file an appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court is running out. We have reached 5% of our goal and are thankful for every dollar. If we win our case in the U.S. Supreme Court to show we have a liberty or property interest in the Columbus monument, then it will be sent back to the lower court for a ruling. In addition, we have the option to file in the Connecticut Superior Court. To proceed in both courts, we need a legal war chest.
Not only does that mean we need every IADL member to donate to our legal fund, but we need you to ask for your contacts to donate, too. The volunteer work and actions of the board are on behalf of you. This current fundraiser will show if there‘s any “fight” left. Recently, citizens were active in “No Kings” demonstrations. Mayor Justin Elicker, Governor Ned Lamont, Rosa DeLauro, and a few noble citizens acted as ROYALTY when they chose to remove Columbus monuments in the Summer of 2020 without public meetings and notice. Let’s show we want NO KINGS in Connecticut.
You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven.
Italian Heritage News
Super Mario Turns 40. How an Italian American plumber became a global icon
In September - forty years ago - Nintendo released a video game that changed the history of global entertainment. -We The Italians
Frank Sinatra's Favorite Recipe Was This Italian-American Classic from His Mom
Simple, comforting, and oh-so delicious. -Carmella D’Acquisto
After Half a Century, Andrew Cuomo’s New York Comes to an End
It was a humbling conclusion for a politician whose family name has dominated the state’s political landscape for half a century. -Nik Popli
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Joseph Catanzaro, IAFL Delegate and Italian American Alliance-CT President
IADL Newsletter
November 2, 2025 – We Need YOU!
Thank you to IADL members for your generosity. We have reached 5% of our goal and we continue to need your support. The volunteer work and actions of the board are on behalf of you. You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Welcome to our newest IADL members: Glen Terelli, Aldo Grillo, and Garibaldi Scalercio.
Earlier this year, IADL received communications from COPOMAIO stating that President Trump was requesting a Columbus monument that could be placed at the White House. Baltimore’s Columbus statue which was dumped in the city’s harbor is now headed there. Although, IADL focused its legal efforts on New Haven, we have opened conversations with leaders of other cities in Connecticut. When we asked Mayor Michael Passero of New London to send the removed New London statue to Washington, D.C. we received this response:
The Columbus statue that my city owns is currently in storage for safe keeping. Unfortunately, there are people who would do harm to the statue if they could get access to it. On the other hand, I believe the majority of the residents of New London have a close attachment to the statue and many of the descendants of the immigrants who commissioned the work still live here. Suggesting that we give up ownership of the statue would dash all hopes that many have of being able to reinstall the statue in the future. Even if it was possible to gain community support to give up ownership, from a timeline perspective, it would be impossible to complete the process within the time frame you are under. Thank you for the inquiry,
The response is positive because the mayor says there is a possibility that the statue may be reinstalled in the future. However, the timeline constraints described to move the statue to D.C. are in stark contrast to the quick decision by the mayor to remove it in 2020. It amazes me that the mayor admits that the citizens of New London want to keep the statue but are keeping it in storage because of the few radicals who want to destroy it. Where is the courage to defend justice? We will accept the mayor is true to his word, and that his statement isn’t just lip service. We need the Italian Americans of New London to advocate for the timely reinstallment of the Columbus monument.
Welcome New IADL Board Members
Our current officers and board of directors continue to serve this term from 2024-2026. We have a board of 8 members with the addition of Buddy Prete and Maureen Franco. Prete served many years on the Milford Columbus Committee and Franco has contributed to Italian organizations in New Haven. Both are dedicated to our mission: promote education, portray Italians positively, and preserve traditions. On Tuesday the BOD appointed Prete and Franco to finish this three-year term which ends in 2026. James Urbano, director, was appointed Clerk by the board. The Vice President officer’s position is currently vacant. Thank you to our new directors and current board for offering their time and talents to our organization.
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Italian Heritage News
Italian American Groups Advocate for Greater Recognition of National Native American Heritage Month
Italian American organizations across the United States are calling for increased recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, observed each November. -Andre Dimino
Mayor Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani owes Italian Americans —and all Americans — an apology. - Angelo Vivolo
How This Italian Town Came to Be Known as the ‘City of Witches’
Centuries ago, it was said that Benevento was a gathering place for the occult. Today, superstitions still run deep. -Smithsonian magazine
Italian-American Defense League honored an Italian American each day of October on its X account during Italian American History and Culture Month. We used the great work of Janice Therese Mancuso from her website.
The NBA, the State of Connecticut, and college sports, sold their souls to gambling, and now the media capitalizes on an alluring Italian mafia story, even though the alleged ringleader and many “players” are not Italian.
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Now is the time! Ora è il momento!
IADL Newsletter
October 26, 2025 – Stop the Madness
JOIN IADL's FIGHT FOR LAW AND ORDER AND HELP STOP THE INSANITY!!!
IT'S TIME TO BRING THE COLUMBUS STATUE BACK TO WHERE IT STOOD IN NEW HAVEN FOR 130 YEARS. THE REMOVAL WAS AN UNLAWFUL ACT BY BLM, MAYOR ELICKER AND A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. WE'RE NOW READY TO BRING OUR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT.
PLEASE HELP US STOP THE MADNESS. ANY DONATION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
You may contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees).
We need you to attend our next board meeting!
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Italian-American Defense League Board Meeting
Calling on all members! Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will take place at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. Order a meal and meet IADL board members in the diner’s private meeting room. Your RSVP will help us prepare for the meeting. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512, Register here!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here at our online store. 12% goes to the IADL!
Italian Heritage News
These confederate statues caused US protests. Knocked down, they're the centre of a new art show
“A massive monument of General Robert E Lee that once sparked riots in the Virginia city of Charlottesville is now a pile of melted-down bronze, artfully displayed in a Los Angeles museum.” -Regan Morris . . . Will Columbus statues be melted next?
“Russo is the president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, a conglomerate established to unify Italian American groups to stand up for their own interests.” - Peter D’Abrosca
Rediscovering and Reclaiming Columbus: What Americans Don’t Know About Him
“Christopher Columbus was—in his own way—a Founding Father, too. A man of his time. And a man who transcended time.” - Lee Rizzuto and Lee Habeeb
Judge Orders West Orange to Resolve Christopher Columbus Statue Lawsuit by Mediation
“On September 24, United States District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi, entered a mediation order.” - Elise Phillips Margulis
Republican members of Congress ask Walz to restore Christopher Columbus statue
The representatives also urged the governor to “ensure that state property and historical monuments are treated with the respect and legal protections they deserve.” - by KTSP
Upcoming Events
Stamford, Connecticut Italian Heritage Events Sponsored by UNICO National
Now to Oct 31st; “Italian Contributions to the World”; Photo Exhibit, Ferguson Library-Free
October 26th; Joe Corsello and the George Garzone Jazz Quartet, Ferguson Library, FREE 2pm – 3 pm
October 27th; ITALIAN STORYTIME, 4 pm, Harry Bennet Branch - FREE
October 28th; Lidia Bastianich Presentation; Ferguson Library 6:30pm. FREE Reservations required here; An Evening with Celebrity Chef and Cookbook Author Lidia Bastianich, an Italian-American Heritage Month Program | Ferguson Library
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
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JUNE 24, 2020 at Wooster Square Park in New Haven, CT
IADL Newsletter
October 19, 2025 – 1892 Columbus Monument Dedication
Five years after the unjust removal of the Columbus monument at Wooster Square Park in New Haven, the Italian-American Defense League is one legal bound away from a final verdict in the U.S. Supreme Court. IADL is still 293 donors away from meeting its financial goal to fund our legal fight for justice. All donations big and small help, and 293 donors of $100 will get us to the finish line. You may send a check or contribute to this GoFundMe. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
October 21, 1892, was the true 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of America when adjusting from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. That is why the Italians of New Haven dedicated their Christopher Columbus monument on that date. We are fighting for Paul Russo and the United Italian societies in our quest for justice. They are the Italians who paved the way for so many immigrants in their journey for a better life in Connecticut. Below is the text of a newspaper article recounting the meaningful event from the day before.
Morning Journal & Courier - October 22, 1892: The Statue to the Great Discoverer on Wooster Square Unveiled - Thousands of People Present
New Haven, CT - The unveiling of the statue of Columbus on Wooster Square erected by the New Haven Italians occurred yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd of people and was accompanied by fitting ceremonies. The Italian societies formed on the green and from thence proceeded to parade the principal streets of the city. The parade reflected great credit upon all concerned... The procession formed in the following order: United Italian societies, headed by the American band, Elm City band, St. Antonia and St. Michael's, floats representing the ship in which Columbus sailed and America, mayor and officers in carriages, on the return of the parade to the square the officers took seats on the platform which had been erected beside the monument.
In the front of the platform was a table, on which stood an American eagle. On the right of the table was Dorina Del Grego, dressed in the American colors, and on the left Mary Johnanelles, representing Italy. E.S. Del Grego opened the ceremonies by presenting the chairman, L. Lombardi. When Mr. Lombardi took the chair, the statue was unveiled. The American band played "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the Italian band played the Italian national anthem. Paul Russo presented the statue to the city on behalf of the united societies with the following speech:
Mr. Mayor, Citizens of New Haven and Fellow Countrymen: The Italians of this beautiful city are proud of their adopted home and interested in no small degree in its advancement and prosperity. Notwithstanding the lack of early education and training in many of them, their trials and severe hardships and their present surroundings, they have endeavored to become law abiding and worthy citizens.
Today there exists in your midst a community of our countrymen whose every thought and impulse is to emulate the quality and character of manhood and citizenship as possessed and displayed by our native born. To indicate in a modest manner our patriotism, our affection and esteem for this great republic, and for this city in particular, the Italian United Societies of New Haven have caused to be erected a monument of this great and illustrious countryman, Christopher Columbus, to be presented through you, Mr. Mayor, to the citizens of New Haven, and in their name and behalf I, who have been selected to perform this pleasant duty, formally tender the same and to remain here forever. We will be more than gratified and recompensed if you receive this gift with the spirit and pleasure that we feel in giving it. Let it serve to be a watchword of our gratitude and loyalty. Let it inspire brave deeds and noble conduct while we are of you.
May you never have cause to regret our entrance into your midst. May this enduring
structure of bronze and stone indicate and incite a desire for art and science in the hearts and minds of those that follow us. May it cement the bond of friendship so long existing between our native and adopted countries. May it serve to eliminate the distinction between Italians and Americans, merging our race differences in the American citizen, working and striving for a common good and common purpose. May we all enjoy the peace and continued prosperity of this great and glorious land, and may the Almighty in his infinite wisdom shower his blessings upon us now and for all time to come.
Mayor Sargent received the statue for the city. He read the resolution passed by the common council accepting the statue. He said in the course of his remarks: "It gives me great pleasure as mayor and chief executive of the city of New Haven to accept from you this beautiful and artistic statue. "I pledge to you the care and keeping of this statue by the city. It will stay here as a pledge of the loyalty of the Italians of this country to the nation and its flag. I believe that all prejudices should be wiped out. Let such be the aim of future generations. Where the people today welcome the gift of this statue I accept the same, and in accepting it my mission here is ended."
Italian Heritage News
We the Italians Online Magazine – October 2025
90% of Italians surveyed believe that Columbus Day should remain a federal holiday.
Public Television – New Orleans - Columbus Day Special
Columbus, New Orleans massacre, Italian sculptor, and Apollo 11 discussed in this episode.
Primo Magazine – Why Columbus Day must be celebrated
PRIMO Magazine’s editor, Truby Chiaviello, makes a heartfelt plea to preserve Columbus Day — as a political symbol and as a day of Italian American pride, exploration, and shared American history.
Rulli Bill Punishes Governments that Replace Columbus Day
Called the “Italian Heroes and Heritage Act,” Rulli’s bill would prohibit federal funds to local or state governments that have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
President Trump’s Columbus Day Proclamation
“Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage.” - Donald J. Trump
Beloved Italian grandfather beaten to death by psycho killer at Brooklyn subway station laid to rest
Nicola Tanzi, 64, was sucker punched twice in the face and knocked to the ground at the Jay Street-MetroTech as he held a door open for the deranged David Mazariegos, who records show has five open criminal cases.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sings for Donald Trump in the Oval Office
The US president was filmed watching Andrea Bocelli singing along to his music as the pair met in the White House.
Once dumped in the Inner Harbor, Baltimore's Columbus statue now headed to the White House
The Trump Administration collaborated with Italian American groups to obtain and place the monument at the White House.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Italian-American Defense League Board Meeting
Calling on all members! Join IADL for a Board of Director’s meeting which will take place at the Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, CT. Order a meal and meet IADL board members in the diner’s private meeting room. Your RSVP will help us prepare for the meeting. The address is 34 Main St, East Haven, CT 06512, Register here!
Stamford, Connecticut Italian Heritage Events Sponsored by UNICO National
Now to Oct 31st; “Italian Contributions to the World”; Photo Exhibit, Ferguson Library-Free
October 19th; Venetian Carnevale Presentation by Laura Parisi, Ferguson Library 2pm - FREE
October 25th; “The History of Gravina” Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3 pm
October 26th; Joe Corsello and the George Garzone Jazz Quartet, Ferguson Library, FREE 2pm – 3 pm
October 27th; ITALIAN STORYTIME, 4 pm, Harry Bennet Branch - FREE
October 28th; Lidia Bastianich Presentation; Ferguson Library 6:30pm. FREE Reservations required here; An Evening with Celebrity Chef and Cookbook Author Lidia Bastianich, an Italian-American Heritage Month Program | Ferguson Library
Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
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Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here at our online store. 12% goes to the IADL!
"Happy Columbus Day" wreath placed at the Columbus monument plinth in New Haven on October 13, 2025.
IADL Newsletter
October 12, 2025 – Happy Columbus Day!
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION - October 9, 2025
Today our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus — the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization, and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth. This Columbus Day, we honor his life with reverence and gratitude, and we pledge to reclaim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue from the left-wing arsonists who have sought to destroy his name and dishonor his memory.
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451, Columbus quickly emerged as a titan of the Age of Exploration. On August 3, 1492, following years of intense study, preparation, and petitioning,
Christopher Columbus secured funding from the Spanish Crown to set out on a daring expedition that most believed to be impossible. Commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Columbus and his crew boarded three small ships — the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria — to set sail on a perilous voyage across the Atlantic. He was guided by a noble mission: to discover a new trade route to Asia, bring glory to Spain, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to distant lands.
Just over 2 months later, on October 12, 1492, Columbus made landfall in the modern-day Bahamas. Upon his arrival, he planted a majestic cross in a mighty act of devotion, dedicating the land to God and setting in motion America’s proud birthright of faith. Though he initially believed he had arrived in Asia, his discovery opened the vast frontier and untold splendors of the New World to Europe. He later ventured onward to Cuba and other islands in the Caribbean — exploring their coasts and engaging with their people.
Guided by steadfast prayer and unwavering fortitude and resolve, Columbus’s journey carried thousands of years of wisdom, philosophy, reason, and culture across the Atlantic into the Americas — paving the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization less than three centuries later on July 4, 1776.
Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage. Before our very eyes, left-wing radicals toppled his statues, vandalized his monuments, tarnished his character, and sought to exile him from our public spaces. Under my leadership, those days are finally over — and our Nation will now abide by a simple truth: Christopher Columbus was a true American hero, and every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination.
As we celebrate his legacy, we also acknowledge the contributions of the countless Italian-Americans who, like him, have endlessly contributed to our culture and our way of life. To this day, the United States and Italy share a special bond rooted in the timeless values of faith, family, and freedom. My Administration looks forward to strengthening our long and storied friendship in the years to come.
This Columbus Day, more than 500 years since Columbus arrived in the New World, we follow his example, we echo his resolve, and we offer our gratitude for his life of valor and grit. Above all, we commit to restoring a Nation that once again dares to tame the unknown, honors our rich cultural inheritance, and offers rightful praise to our Creator above.
In commemoration of Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as “Columbus Day.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 13, 2025, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of the great Christopher Columbus and all who have contributed to building our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
President Trump signs a Columbus Day proclamation in the Oval Office on October 9, 2025.