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In the mid-20th century, Italian immigrants Luisa DeLauro and Linda DiPaola Saracco operated sewing machines in a dress factory at State and Chapel Streets. Thursday night, their politician daughters worked together to change Columbus Day in New Haven to “Italian Heritage Day.” DeLauro’s daughter, Rosa DeLauro, represents New Haven in the U.S. Hous...

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A Springfield-based Italian American group is asking its members not to travel to or spend money in Chicago "until there is a satisfactory resolution addressing the taking down" of the city’s Christopher Columbus statues. The Roman Cultural Society of Central Illinois unanimously adopted the resolution earlier this week. It also made a financial co...

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It is understandable that Christopher Columbus monuments would be erected in locations that have a direct relationship with him. In Italy, the country of his birth, there are 45 Columbus monuments and plaques, mostly in the Genoa area. In Spain, the flag under which he sailed to the New World, there are 67. There are 39 in the West Indies, where Co...

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SAVE the Christopher Columbus statue in New Britain, Connecticut! Please sign this petition and show your support to keep this historic monument at McCabe Park. The Columbus statue has served as a symbol of Italian-American heritage and pride since its original unveiling at this site in 1941. The statue was originally commissioned and paid for thro...

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As Christopher Columbus statues across the country are torn down and vandalized, an Italian heritage group is asking the town of Kearny to protect a Columbus monument there. UNICO, an organization that promotes Italian ancestry and culture, sent a letter dated July 2 to Kearny Mayor Al Santos and the Town Council asking the city to spray a “protect...

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Joseph Camelia admits he didn’t know that the bust of Christopher Columbus stood in front of his hometown’s municipal building for nearly 20 years. But when he received a call at the end of June claiming protesters were going to topple it, he immediately thought of his father. "My father came from Italy, worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week, an...

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Protesters pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus in St. Paul on June 10 as anti-racism demonstrations surged around the country. State Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, watched from her office window. "We watched in amazement as we saw them lasso the statue and start pulling on it," said Erickson. "I saw a lot of women pulling on it. I was...

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In this week’s episode of the Italian American Podcast, we’re setting out to tackle an issue that has been at the forefront of conversations surrounding the Italian American identity in the 21st Century. This issue is one that hits at the heart of our national mythology for Americans of all ethnicities — the life and legacy of Christopher Columbus....

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An Italian American advocacy group is slamming Medford's decision to change the name of Columbus Elementary School, going so far as to threaten legal action. The Italian American One Voice Coalition, which describes itself as an activist group combating discrimination and negative stereotyping, sent a letter to the mayor and City Council Thursday c...

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A confrontation took place Saturday afternoon between a group of Kenosha teens known as Kenosha Activism and counter-demonstrators supporting Italian heritage. The confrontation was very loud at times, but peaceful. The Kenosha Activism organizers—three local high school students from Indian Trail High School and Academy—had planned a march titled...

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