Neil Proto, an attorney and author, published an opinion piece, “New Haven Italian-American sculpture represents true courage (without Columbus),” about the new immigrant statue at Wooster Square in New Haven. Proto was handpicked by Mayor Justin Elicker to serve as a historian and consultant to the Wooster Square Monument Committee.
Instead of defending the Italians of the last 128 years, members of the committee agreed to Mayor Elicker’s demands to create a new immigrant statue to replace the Columbus monument. Proto’s opinion piece seems to outline Mayor Elicker’s legal defense to the Italian-American Defense League’s lawsuit.
Proto’s facts are fuzzy
Proto promotes himself as an expert and historian, which seems doubtful. For example, Proto wrote, “On July 21, 1892, President William Henry Harrison proclaimed, as ‘authorized and directed’ by Congress, a one-time national holiday on Oct. 21, 1892 …”. Did you find Proto’s mistake? President William Henry Harrison died 51 years before 1892. It was President Benjamin Harrison who made the first presidential proclamation to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of America.
Christopher Columbus: an Italian-American icon
First, Proto minimizes the importance of Columbus to Italian immigrants and suggests that Columbus was not important to Paul Russo, who led Italian United Societies. Proto’s opinion is illogical because Russo and these Italian immigrants funded, erected, and dedicated the Columbus monument.
At the Columbus monument’s dedication on Oct. 21, 1892, Russo stated, “the Italian United Societies of New Haven have caused to be erected a monument of this great and illustrious countryman, Christopher Columbus.” Proto is putting a modern-day spin on history in Russo’s speech. According to Russo, Columbus had everything to do with being Italian-American in New Haven.
Second, Proto indicates that the Columbus monument was a gift to the City of New Haven in contrast to the words that Russo actually said. Russo stated that the Columbus monument was “to be presented through you, Mr. Mayor [Joseph Sargent] to the citizens of New Haven, and in their name and behalf I, who have been selected to perform this pleasant duty, formally tender the same and to remain here forever.” The words, “through you” and Mayor Sargent’s statement, “Where the people to-day welcome the gift of this statue I accept the same,” strengthen the case that the statue was a gift to New Haven citizens.“ Mayor Sargent replied, “It will stay here as a pledge of the loyalty of the Italians of this country to the nation and its flag.
Columbus: An Italian Catholic icon
Proto emphasizes Columbus’ status as an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant icon and diminishes the explorer’s role as a Catholic figure to the Italians of New Haven.
In Giuseppe Garibaldi’s letter to Abraham Lincoln on Aug. 6, 1863, Garibaldi refers to Italians as “Free children of Columbus.” This letter was written 19 years before Russo’s Columbus statue dedication in New Haven.
A historian is required to have a broad understanding of history in context and should know that Columbus was not only a historical icon to Anglo-Saxons in the United States, but was also a historic icon in Italy. Furthermore, it was the Protestant National Council of Churches that led efforts to eliminate Columbus Day and promote a revisionist narrative in 1992 on the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ first landing in America.
Proto seems to think that even though Italian immigrants of 1892 erected a statue of Christopher Columbus on Columbus Green next to St. Michael’s Church, their Catholic Church, Columbus was not an important Catholic figure in the lives of New Haven Italians.
Columbus monument: A response to the New Orleans lynching of 11 Italians
Proto mentions Yale’s role in the eugenics movement and Gov. Dean Wilbur Cross’s belief in the sterilization of Southern Italians. Sadly, the City of New Haven keeps the namesake of Wilbur Cross for one of its high schools, while eliminating the Columbus statue, which represents the very Italians targeted by the eugenics movement and victims of the March 14, 1891, lynching of 11 Italian immigrants.
The Yale New Haven Teachers Institute published research showing that a New Haven barber and physician called a meeting in response to the New Orleans lynchings of Italians which led to the 1892 Columbus Day celebrations and dedication of the Columbus monument at Wooster Square.
According to the Yale New Haven Teachers Institute, The New Haven Register, “reported that thirty-five Italians in New Haven had met at 796 Chapel Street to consider a mass meeting to denounce the lynchers. Callers of the meeting included Dr. Botello of 111 Hill Street, an Italian physician and head of the Italian-American Democratic Club, and Donato Vece, barber, of 179 Congress Avenue.
Increasing pride in Italian heritage was shown by a massive Columbus Day celebration in New Haven on Oct. 11, 1892, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the landing of Columbus. Many thousands took part in the parade, which extended for miles and included 36 and 11 drum corps. On the following evening a number of local Italian societies sponsored the laying of the cornerstone of a statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square on Chapel Street, overlooking New Haven harbor, which at that time came up to Water Street. The monument, unveiled and presented to the city on October 21, 1892, was paid for solely by contributions from Italian-Americans.”
Presidential proclamation: an apology for the lynching
Following the March 1891 lynchings, U.S. Secretary of State James G. Blaine and the Italian government participated in an international dispute regarding damages to be paid to the families of the Italian immigrant victims, who were unfairly accused of being in the mafia.
The Pittsburg Press reported on April 16, 1891, “We do not believe the Italian government will declare war against the United States, but it does look as if it would be driven to a complete suspension of friendly intercourse with the government by Blaine’s letter.” In May 1891, the Italian Consul of New Orleans recalled its ambassador to Rome to give testimony to the Italian government about the lynchings. After a year of diplomatic talks on April 16, 1892, the United States Government agreed to pay the families of the immigrants $28,000 in damages.
The Sydney Mail reported on April 11, 1891, that Benjamin Harrison, “deplores the unfortunate occurrence at New Orleans, and he promises to institute a searching inquiry into the circumstances of the outbreak.” In response, Marquis Di Rudini, the Italian Premier, stated, “diplomatic relations can only be resumed on the commencement of the prosecution of the men who shot Italian subjects at New Orleans.” After listening to the Italian Premier’s request, it was reported that President Harrison, “has formally demanded that the Governor of the State of Louisiana, shall arrest the lynchers of the Sicilians for trial in the Federal Court.”
President Benjamin Harrison attended ceremonies to unveil the shaft of the new Columbus monument presented by Italian societies in New York in 1892 and honored Columbus for the discovery of America with the first presidential proclamation in honor of Columbus for the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’s landing in America. Fast forward to April 12, 2019, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell apologized for the government’s role in the March 14, 1891, lynchings of Italian immigrants.
Back in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1891, Donato Vece and Dr. Botello, assumingly knew of the international crises and called a meeting. As a result, Italians of New Haven participated in a patriotic display of Americanism on Columbus Day in 1892 and days later culminating with the dedication of New Haven’s Columbus monument. Columbus became a symbol of courage for Italian immigrants in their newly adopted home country as Americans.
With that understanding, it is clear why Communist USA members Howard Zinn and New Haven’s Al Marder distorted Columbus’s history to tear it down: Columbus was a patriotic symbol, Catholic, and patriarchal. Too many people and news media still repeat the genocide lies spread by Zinn.
Throughout the Columbus statue’s history, it has been a target of bigotry and hate. Italians repaired the statue after vandalism and protested its removal on more than one occasion. The Wooster Square Monument Committee needs to return Columbus to restore the reputations of its members.
Unlike Italians of the past, Proto and members of the Monument Committee appeared to have bowed to pressure. Until members publicly support the return of Columbus, their reputations will be tarnished as they are siding with Communists and historical revisionists, instead of 128 years of courageous Italians.
Matthew Guarnieri is president of the Italian-American Defense League (IADL) which promotes education, portrays Italians positively, and preserves traditions.