The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), a national coalition of 71 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups, shared an important update in their fight to keep Columbus Day alive in Philadelphia.

Following COPOMIAO’s earlier wins — where their outstanding national counsel, George Bochetto, forced the City of Philadelphia to take down a wooden box that obscured the Christopher Columbus statue from public view and thwarted an illegal attempt to dismantle the 150-year-old monument — the coalition has raised a new legal appeal. COPOMIAO is contesting former Mayor Jim Kenney’s executive order to swap Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day.

In this video, watch Bochetto make a strong case before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, arguing that Mayor Kenney’s executive order unlawfully discriminates against Italian American citizens in violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution’s recently expanded equal protection rights.

Bochetto clearly explains why the lower court got it wrong and why the higher court should fix it. This is a true fight for fairness, heritage, ethnic equality and respect for our community in Philadelphia.

-Basil M. Russo, President, ISDA / COPOMIAO

 

-Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) is a proud member of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations.