Shouting "Fire!" at a crowded event is unlawful and reckless — unless, of course, the danger is real. We continue to shout against the reckless stereotyping of our ethnicity, but the effect has been alarmingly different.

To those Italian Americans who remain cynical, who ignore the ramifications of bigotry or, worse, who relish the misleading narratives pushed by social media and Hollywood: you must be more mindful. Your indifference fuels the problem.

We have written about this issue ad nauseam over the years, yet the stereotypes persist in the mainstream, unabated. We have documented the real-world consequences of this offensive conduct — and still, it continues.

Today’s example is particularly egregious. During a Fox News Weekend segment, as they covered one of the most solemn ceremonies in the Catholic Church, hosts Charlie Hurt, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Griff Jenkins couldn’t resist an inappropriate and offensive comparison. As they reported on the historic meeting between two presidents seeking peace — with the Vatican and Pope Francis’ commitment to global unity as the backdrop — they likened the scene to The Godfather film.

Even more irreverently, they joked, “Well, you have to have a funeral,” mocking the gravity of the event and reducing it to a mafia movie reference. This wasn’t just a tasteless quip; it was an outright affront — minimizing a moment of profound hope for world peace by dragging it into the gutter of lazy, damaging Italian American stereotypes.
Why is this allowed to continue?

Our Italian American One Voice Coalition exists to enlighten and to advocate. But ultimately, it is up to all of us — Italian Americans and allies alike — to stand against this constant attack on our integrity and heritage. Silence and indifference will only allow it to prevail.