Mayor faces separate lawsuit that seeks to reestablish Columbus holiday in Philly
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Paula Patrick yesterday issued a ruling slamming the City of Philadelphia for its attempt to remove the Columbus Statue from Marconi Plaza.
“It is baffling to this court as to how the City of Philadelphia wants to remove the Statue without any legal basis. The city’s entire argument and case is devoid of any legal foundation,” Judge Patrick wrote.
Click here to download and view Judge Patrick’s full remarks
As a result of this ruling the Columbus Statue will remain on display in Marconi Plaza.
This is a major victory for the Italian American community in its fight to preserve Columbus Statues.
The lawsuit was skillfully argued before the court by our outstanding attorney George Bochetto, who is also handling the federal lawsuit filed in Philadelphia on behalf of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO).
The federal lawsuit seeks to prevent the City of Philadelphia and its mayor, Jim Kenney, from abolishing Columbus Day and replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day, as such an act would constitute discrimination against Italian Americans under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
A win in the federal suit will have an earthshaking effect around the country.
Yesterday’s court victory is a clear example of how a united Italian American community can achieve success.
If we continue to work together, there is no end to what our community can accomplish.
Best regards,
President Basil M. Russo
Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations
COPOMIAO.org
Save Columbus Committee
Robert Ferrito, Chair
Frank Lorenzo, Co-Chair
Mary Kovach, Co-Chair
Sub-Committee Co-Chairs
Robert Petrone
William Cerruti
Angelo Vivolo
John Fratta
Donna DeSanctis
Charles Marsala
Robert M Ferrito
Andre Dimino
Frank Lorenzo
Mike Santo
