Fighting Stereotypes

The CSJ Perspective

By Robert M. Ferrito, President

Happy Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month! I hope that everybody enjoyed a wonderful Columbus Day celebration this year and will continue celebrating our heritage through the rest of the month—and the remainder of the year as well!

I’m pleased to report that, one year into the formation of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), we have gained such momentum through our unity. Between the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), National Italian American Foundation, Italian Sons & Daughters in America, UNICO, Italian American One Voice Coalition, and others, we have come together in a way that has produced results and strengthened our voice to protect our holiday, Columbus Day.

There were several victories for Columbus Day and Columbus statues this past year, and one of the most triumphant was the recent victory in Philadelphia. After Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney unilaterally removed Columbus Day—with no due process or public forum—our group sprang into action, filing a lawsuit against the mayor and the city. Mayor Kenney also ordered Philadelphia’s Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza to be removed, which a Common Pleas Court Judge denied on the grounds that such an order has no legal basis. South Philadelphia’s Columbus statue will stay exactly where it is!

These are the kind of initiatives and results we can achieve when we work together. Through COPOMIAO, we have established this joint effort, and I promise you that, under my watch, OSDIA and its Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) will always play a prominent role in the organization. Just a couple weeks ago, as part of a Columbus Day campaign to educate and influence our representatives, your CSJ assembled, printed, and mailed out a letter to every member in the United States Congress on behalf of COPOMIAO. I’d like to offer a special thanks to our National Office for making that happen!

Through COPOMIAO, we have developed a new Columbus brochure to educate others on the significance of the explorer’s life and the importance of the holiday that honors both him and our Italian heritage. They are available for free (up to 200) to all organizations, lodges, and clubs. If you would like to request brochures, please email us at csj@osia.org and include your name, address, and the quantity you’d like.

Finally, I would like to encourage you to use the donation slip below and make whatever contribution you can afford. As you can see—whether it involves filing a lawsuit to protect our rights, mailing letters to all members of Congress, or producing an educational brochure—it all requires funding. Please consider making a donation this fall in the name of Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month!

Sempre Avanti!

YES! I would like to help Save Columbus Day and keep Columbus Statues standing.

Please accept my tax-deductible donation to support the Commission for Social Justice’s mission.

To donate online, visit www.osia.org/csj To donate by phone, call the National Office at (202) 547-2900

$10 $25 $50 $100 $

My check for the total amount of $ is enclosed.

(Please make check payable to the “Commission for Social Justice”)

Mail to: Commission for Social Justice 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002

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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (required by Act of August 12, 1970: Section 3685, Title 39, United States Code). ITALIAN AMERICA MAGAZINE (ISSN 1089-5043) is published quarterly at 219 E Street, NE; Washington, DC 20002. The annual subscription price is $20. The complete mailing address of Known Office of Publication is located at 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. The general business offices of the publisher and the editor are at same address as above. Publisher: Order Sons of Italy in America, same address as above. Editor: Miles Ryan Fisher, same address as above. Owner full name is Order Sons of Italy in America, 219 E Street, NE; Washington, DC 20002. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and other Security Holders Owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. Tax status: has not changed during preceding 12 months. Publication Title: Italian America. Issue Date for Circulation Data below: SUMMER 2021. The extent and nature of circulation is: A. Total Number of Copies (Net press run). Average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months: 28,050. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 26,750. B. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 27,456. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 26,152. C. Total Paid Distribution. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 27,456. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 26,152. D. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County. distribution by mail, carrier or other means. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 300. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 200. E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 300. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 200. F. Total Distribution. Average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months: 27,756. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 26,352. G. Copies not Distributed. Average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months: 294. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 398. H. Total. Average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months: 28,050. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 26,750. I. Percent Paid. Average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months: 98.92%. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 99.24%. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Filed August 27, 2021. Miles Ryan Fisher, Editor-in-Chief. Have You Checked Out Your

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