Basil M. Russo, President of Italian Sons and Daughters of America — and the ISDA legal team, led by attorney George Bochetto — secured a temporary injunction in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas that will block Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto from removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park. 

The Italian American community saved for decades to collect the $65,000 needed to build the 50-foot bronze and marble Columbus monument, and it is ISDA’s goal to secure a permanent ruling that would put a halt to the city's removal plan.