National News

Major Italian-American Organizations File Civil Rights Lawsuit

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations—which includes the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America—Philadelphia Councilmember Mark F. Squilla, and The 1492 Society have jointly filed a civil rights lawsuit against Philadelphia Mayor James F. Kenney and the City of Philadelphia for the unilateral removal of Columbus Day as a holiday in Philadelphia.

This lawsuit challenges Executive Order No. 2-21 that replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Mayor Kenney issued the order unilaterally on January 27, 2021, denying public forum and without notifying other branches of the city government responsible for designating holidays. The order also undermines State Statute 44 P.S. Section 32 that declares Columbus Day an official state holiday.

The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Commission for Social Justice President Robert Ferrito, who has been instrumental in The Conference of Presidents, voiced strong support for the lawsuit.

“Elected officials cannot do whatever they want,” he said. “They can’t attack our holiday and insult the ItalianAmerican community and think we’ll stand idly by without doing anything about it.”

The lawsuit is not only a means to confront the ongoing discrimination against Italian Americans in Philadelphia, but also represents a united front among the entire Italian-American community. Along with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, all other major Italian-American organizations are represented in The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations.

“It’s through our division that cities and their officials have been successful in their attacks on our heritage,” Mr. Ferrito said. “But now, for the first time in history, we are united. And as one, we’ll defend our heritage and make sure it receives the recognition it deserves.”

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