S.R. Perricone, a former federal prosecutor, has solved a pivotal case that went cold more than a century ago. In his new best-selling book, Cobblestones: A New Orleans Tragedy, Perricone identifies who really killed New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy in 1890 — a crime that gave rise to the largest lynch mob ever assembled, which murdered 11 innocent Italian immigrants. The lynchings fueled mafia stereotypes that persist even today and sparked a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Italy.
I ask that you join me and help fund the production costs — filming, editing and archiving — to transform Mr. Perricone's groundbreaking investigative work and historical presentation into a short documentary film that can be preserved for future generations.
- Our goal is for each COPOMIAO president to contribute at least $50 toward the film project
Remember, this brutal tragedy is deeply connected to the origins of Columbus Day. In the aftermath of the 1891 lynchings, President Benjamin Harrison established the first national observance of Columbus Day in 1892, in part as a gesture of reconciliation amid international outrage and to encourage greater tolerance toward immigrants. The violence and discrimination faced by Italian immigrants during this era also helped inspire Mother Cabrini to launch her mission in the United States, including her work in New Orleans.
If you’re on the East Coast and would like to meet Mr. Perricone in person, he’ll be at the Italian American Museum in NYC on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. to discuss his book and the case. It’s a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about this remarkable discovery and the history behind it.
