The mayor of New Orleans plans an apology to Italian Americans for what's considered the nation's most deadly lynching — violence in which 11 Italian immigrants were killed after acquittals in a police chief's murder. "This has been a longstanding wound," said Michael Santo of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy. The lynching in 1891 and responses to it prompted Italy to close its embassy in the U.S., followed by a reciprocal U.S. Embassy closing in Italy, he said.

Santo said that when the city was asked earlier this year for an apology, Mayor LaToya Cantrell embraced the idea, appointing Human Relations Commission head Vincenzo Pasquantonio as liaison. "Our office has worked with the Italian-American community on this issue and will be releasing a proclamation" April 12, said a statement emailed by mayoral spokesman Joseph Caruso.