SAVING COLUMBUS DAY

Read: "Why Columbus Day Matters"

FOR GENERATIONS, ITALIAN-AMERICANS HAVE EMBRACED COLUMBUS DAY AS A SYMBOL OF THEIR IDENTITY, PRIDE AND UNITY... ORGANIZED BY THE CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS OF MAJOR ITALIAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS



CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE DECLARES OCTOBER
AS ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!


On June 21, 2018, the California State Legislature designated the month of October as Italian-American Heritage Month. 

The Resolution encourages public schools to highlight and include Italian-American achievements and contributions in the school curriculum. A recent study found that Italian-Americans were not mentioned in the social science textbooks used by California students. Even though for much of the 20th Century Italian-Americans were the largest immigrant group in the United States and are one of the largest ethnic groups in California and the U.S.


SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCIL DECLARES
ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY!

On August 21, 2018 , the Sacramento City Council formally adopted a Resolution recognizing the Second Monday of October as Italian-American Day. This is also the same Date that Columbus Day is observed each year. 

When Native Americans sought to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, the Sacramento Italian community objected. As a result of negotiations between the Italian American community, Native Americans and the City Council, Italian-Americans were able to protect the second Monday in October as a holiday for Italian-Americans. 

Italian-Americans have celebrated the Columbus Day holiday for generations as their adopted holiday and held those celebrations on the same weekend as Columbus Day is celebrated. Sincere thanks are due to the many Italian Americans who protested with letters, phone calls and emails to the City Council and to the local Italian American community leaders who successfully negotiated Italian-American Day and led the fight to save our cultural holiday and protect our heritage. According to the census, 66,000 Italian-Americans live in Sacramento. 

CLICK ON TITLES BELOW TO READ ARTICLES:

Italian-American Heritage Day Resolution

Columbus And The Road To Glory Poem

Columbus' Gift

Columbus Day Matters

What Columbus Day Means To Me - A Letter

Protecting Our Heritage

ABOVE PHOTO: Members of Sacramento Italian Community Accept
Italian-American Day Resolution at City Hall