Philly Radical Italian Network

10/13/2025

✊🏿✊🏽✊🏻

There is no pride in genocide. We stand with our Indigenous famiglia in their demand for an immediate end to the celebration of murderous colonizers.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY MUST REPLACE COLUMBUS DAY

October 13, 2025 - Statement by Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day (MA), Italian American Heritage Society of Chicago, and Philly Radical Italian Network

As progressive Italian Americans and allies of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island (North America), we urge municipal, state, and federal elected bodies to immediately enact measures to abolish Columbus Day and designate the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day. Now more than ever, as systemic injustices multiply under the cruelty of the current administration, we must publicly stand with our famiglia everywhere in the struggle for human rights and dignity.

We believe that a holiday celebrating the resilience of Indigenous people is far more truthful and uplifting than one that honors a brutal colonizer. We have listened to the voices of Indigenous people and learned the complete history of the founding of this nation. Columbus’ horrific acts of genocide and enslavement are the irrefutable truth, proven by Indigenous knowledge, by the writings of Columbus himself and those of his sons and contemporaries, and by mainstream scholarship.

Some Italian Americans believe that Columbus Day in some way makes up for the discrimination our ancestors endured. We believe that because of these experiences we must have zero tolerance for acts of oppression against others. Some claim that the holiday is merely a celebration of Italian American culture. We believe that any association with Columbus diminishes our rich heritage and does not honor the struggles of our ancestors. The celebration of a murderous colonizer must not take place in our name. As allies to Indigenous peoples, we follow in the footsteps of the many Italian Americans throughout our history who have fought for civil and human rights for all.

Today, Italian Americans enjoy recognition and status in America, but these are not privileges afforded to Indigenous people. For them, the celebration of a man responsible for the genocide of their ancestors is another painful reminder of the ways in which they continue to be made invisible. It is time for non-Native people to take collective responsibility for the false and incomplete telling of our history and for our misplaced adulation of Columbus. Only by facing the past will we find a way forward in which we can all prosper and live in peace.

Indigenous people have been advocating for this course correction since the 1970s. By honoring their wishes with a stand-alone holiday - not shared with “Columbus Day” or “Italian American Heritage Day,” we will acknowledge the truth and demonstrate our commitment to healing and reconciliation. This is one small step Italian Americans, and the dominant culture as a whole, can take to begin repairing the harm caused by centuries of oppression and erasure. Become an ally at ItaliansforIPD.org.

04/05/2025

Good morning!
Announcing our next event - Festa Della Liberazione! Come celebrate our rich heritage of resistance to fascism as we build community to continue this work in present!

Sunday, April 27th -- All welcome

10/13/2021

Good morning! With this op-ed, we are rejecting the lawsuits and calls from mainstream Italian American organizations who support Columbus. They do not speak for us. We loudly stand against settler colonialism and white supremacy, and we proudly support the removal of Columbus statues and the celebration of Indigenous People's Day in Philadelphia. Standing in solidarity with oppressed peoples is a far better way to honor our ancestors than celebrating genocidal "heros" ever could be.

Italian Americans have a crucial role in speaking out against the myth that we all support Columbus, or that his symbols and monuments honor us.

10/11/2021

Today is a great day to learn about and support indigenous peoples. Check out Indigenous People's Day events here!

(....and fuggedabout celebrating that lost genocidal navigator...)

Join us. Celebration Indigenous Peoples' Day and support our year-around Campaign.

04/07/2021

We completely reject mainstream Italian American organizations who pretend to speak for the whole community in this ludicrous display of white fragility. We applaud the removal of the Columbus Day holiday, and reject the worship of Columbus and other symbols of our community's assimilation into white supremacy culture. It is very telling that, out of all the things Italian culture has given to the world, these organizations are choosing symbols of white supremacy to define us. Disgusting. Not in our name.

Italian-American culture is not under some kind of threat, as this lawsuit implies. On the other hand, Indigenous folks, Black folks, and other people of color have been under violent threat since the day America was colonized. Time to uplift their voices and challenge white supremacy.

Filed in federal court, the lawsuit also cites the removal of the Rizzo statue and the demotion of a police captain.

02/03/2021

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our event last night! We shared and learned so much, and we're grateful for the fascinating and elucidating discussion we had. If you're interested in learning more about Mamma Schiavona, the femminielli, and the q***r history of Italy, check out this collection of resources!

These include the reference articles, videos, and websites we used for our presentation, as well as links that were dropped by participants.

Grazie mille!

Resources and information from Philly Radical Italian Network's virtual event February 2, 2021.

01/27/2021

Q***r Italians have been thriving for centuries. As descendants of Italian immigrants, we sadly know that their history and traditions are often overlooked, hidden, and suppressed. For our first event of 2021, join us as we shed light on the tradition known as the Ascent of the Femminielli. The Femminielli are a traditional third gender in Southern Italy who, along with other LGBTQ Italians, hold a celebration yearly at the sanctuary of Our Lady of Montevergine, their patron. Join us on this day as we learn more about them, and celebrate a little ourselves!

2/2/21, 8PM. Further event info and zoom link to follow - stay tuned!

11/09/2020

We hope everyone was able to take some time to celebrate our victories this weekend. Let's remember that this is a victory for organizers and folks engaged in community together, building a path to a stronger, more just, democracy.

After decades of voter suppression, organizing efforts pay off.

11/05/2020

In Philly we are going to make sure that EVERY. VOTE. IS. COUNTED.

10/28/2020

There is a long and egregious history of police violence towards Black folks in Philadelphia.

The current police/prison system needs to be abolished and replaced with a public safety system designed for and by the community itself.

These are some of the key events in the painful history of police violence against the Black community in Philadelphia, a glimpse into the legacy of racially discriminatory law enforcement in this city.

10/27/2020

Today we stand in grief and rage with neighbors after another police murder in our city. We stand in solidarity with continued calls for de-funding the police with the goal of abolition, and immediate justice for the murder of Walter Wallace, Jr.

If you are interested in supporting his family through this horrific and tragic loss, you can donate here.

Hello all, on 10/26/2020 a young man life was ended due to the police killing him. He was a 27year… Whitney Mallory needs your support for Funding for Family

10/12/2020

Can we show some love to Natives at Penn? They're so close to their goal of 1500 signatures demanding Penn recognize Indigenous People's Day!

University of Pennsylvania to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day