Sons
of Italy Protests Denver Verdict
Press
Contact: Kylie Cafiero, (202) 547-2900 kcafiero@osia.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February
1, 2005
OFFICIAL
STATEMENT ATTRIBUTE TO:
• Joseph
Sciame, National President, Order Sons of Italy
in America
• Albert DeNapoli, National President, Commission
for Social Justice
The
recent jury verdict in Denver which acquitted 8 political
activists who disrupted the 2004 Columbus Day parade
in that city is irresponsible in its total disregard
for the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
The
Italian Americans who organized and marched in that
parade had a legal right to do so. They obtained
a parade permit and had a right to march.
The activists
who blocked the parade, however, violated the rights
of their fellow citizens and broke the law when they
ignored police orders to disband.
Given these facts,
we are bewildered by the jury's verdict of not guilty.
We
found the defense of "ethnic intimidation" ridiculous
and so should have the jury. Columbus Day does not
constitute hate speech. It is a celebration of one
of our country's oldest patriotic holidays. What's
next? Protesting the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving?
Clearly,
these activists are using Columbus as the straw man
for their own political and social agendas—agendas
which, apparently, do not include respecting the rights
of others or the Constitution.
This miscarriage of justice will have serious repercussions
not only for future Columbus Day parades but for the
right of Americans everywhere to exercise free speech.
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