Renewed political debate continues over Christopher Columbus and the explorer’s legacy. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh is detailing plans to move forward with the removal of the statue at Columbus Circle. Walsh says the city is assembling a task force of Italian-Americans to decide how to respectfully relocate it. “As painful as it’s been at times, it’s...

A stalemate continues over the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park. The city’s Art Commission voted to remove the statue because of Columbus’ history of torture and slavery. The Italian Sons and Daughters of America sued to keep the statue, saying the allegations about Columbus aren’t true. They say he is an import...

A state lawmaker — outraged by the de Blasio administration’s canceling of Columbus Day as a school holiday — is introducing a bill to restore the explorer to the New York City school calendar by rescinding the re-labeling to “Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.” “It is being drafted. Hopefully ready for submission next week,” said state S...

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) stands firmly in opposition to the New York City Department of Education’s decision to eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People’s Day. This decision, which was arrived at without any community input, effectively pits two communities, both worthy of their own in...

The fate of the statue of Christopher Columbus that stood in Wooster Square Park is not yet settled. The state Freedom of Information Commission recently held an evidentiary hearing to review a complaint from Italian-American Heritage Group of New Haven LLC, which alleges the Board of Park Commissioners did not include an agenda item notifying the...

Mayor de Blasio's education department today violated the civil rights of the tens of thousands of Italian American students in New York City. By canceling the celebration of one culture and substituting another, themayor's appointees have pitted group against group. They seek to spread the virus of hatred to destroy understanding and unity. These...

Maybe they should have explored this idea — or even checked with City Hall — before moving ahead full sail. As backlash over its previously unannounced decision to scrap Columbus Day snowballed Tuesday, the New York City Department of Education later said it would now close schools on Oct. 11 for “Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People’s Day.” “Cit...

One of the problems that the Italian American community has always had, and the consequences of which it has always paid for, is division, the lack of unity. When I say that Italian Americans are, to all intents and purposes, Italian, even if some of them do not have an Italian passport that officially certifies it, I mean that there is an Italian...

Worldwide internet radio station Radio Voice Italia, which airs live every Wednesday night at 6 pm to 9 pm U.S. Eastern Time, has bestowed upon Robert Petrone the honor of having a weekly segment titled, “Christopher Columbus University,” a 15-20 minute segment in which he will update listeners on the worldwide efforts to preserve Christopher Colum...

The Oregon House on Monday overwhelmingly passed HB 2526 A, which would make the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the state. The legislation looks to honor and recognize the native people of the state, including the Oregon Tribes, by memorializing the many histories, cultures, contributions, and lives. The bill also aims to addre...