What: The Friends of the Vito Marcantonio Forum will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Vito Marcantonio Forum (VMF), whose public events have included nearly thirty lectures and panels accompanied by skits, dramatizations, presentations, and readings for diverse audiences ranging from 20 to more than 100 people. In addition, the VMF supports a website and has uploaded over thirty videos on YouTube. The VMF has encourages research and writings on these topics, and serves as a clearing house for information on Vito Marcantonio and his world.

Program: The celebration will present poetry, dramatizations, and interactive talks about Marc and his world, performed by Gil Fagiani, Gerald Meyer, LuLu Pascale, and Roberto Ragone.
Joining VMF is Bernard Johnson who will perform a dramatization of Paul Robeson. Many may recall that Johnson's last performance in October, 2014 for the VMF received a standing ovation.

When: Sunday, July 17, 2016 from 12 to 4PM.

Where: Gaetana's Cucina Italiana, 143 Christopher Street in the West Village (northwest corner of Christopher Street and Greenwich Streets), between Hudson and Washington Streets; tel. 212-675-3913
Cost: Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The entry fee entitles you to appetizers and one nonalcoholic drink. The VMF also needs and believes in angels. At moderate prices in an atmospheric setting, Gaetana's offers a full menu of typical Southern Italian dishes and beverages of all types. Benefactor tickets for $100 and donations are welcomed and needed.

For tickets, please send a check made out to Gerald Meyer and write on the memo line "Friends of the Vito Marcantonio Forum." Checks should be mail to either Gerald Meyer 381-2nd Street Bklyn 11215 or Roberto Ragone 231 W148th St. #1R NYC 10039.

How: To purchase tickets in advance, please visit
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2569152

To make contributions, after July 1, go to http://vitomarcantonioforum.com

Who: The Vito Marcantonio Forum honors the memory of Vito Marcantonio, one of the most progressive Congressmen in American history. A protégé of LaGuardia and Leonard Covello, Marcantonio has been called the Thaddeus Stevens of the 20th century. In the House Marc led the fight against the poll tax and to make lynching a federal crime. He defended the rights of immigrants, and championed Puerto Rico's independence. In the postwar era, he fought against McCarthyism at home and the Cold War foreign policy. He represented East Harlem from the late 1930's to the early 1950's, and although he ran on multiple party lines, Marcantonio was a leader of the American Labor Party. Because of his unshakable stand for progressive causes and defense of working people, ruling circles and the commercial press heaped on him buckets of slander. His district was gerrymandered and laws changing election procedures were passed with the intent of defeating him. Yet, he won time after time. The attacks, especially red baiting, intensified during the McCarthy period. In 1950, the Democratic, Republican, and Liberal parties coalesced to defeat the last American Labor Party Congressman. Despite endless opposition, Marcantonio never backed down. He was planning another run for Congress, when on August 9, 1954 at the age of fifty-one, he was stricken by a massive heart attack near City Hall. And although he died with a rosary in his pocket, Cardinal Spellman refused him a Catholic burial; Vito Marcantonio is buried near his mentor, La Guardia at historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

About Gaetana's: At moderate prices in an atmospheric setting, Gaetana's offers a full menu of typical Southern Italian dishes and beverages.
Directions: TRAINS 1, 2 to Christopher St.-Sheridan Square; or,
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to West 4th Street .38-mile walk

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