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Have you ever taken a chance in life? IADL needs 300 people to donate $100 dollars each. For $100 you can help IADL continue its fight for justice. If $100 isn't right for you, every donation big or small matters! New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker cowered in the face of controversy amidst nationwide Antifa protests during 2020 and you can hold him accountable by appealing our case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The empty Columbus statue base represents Mayor Justin Elicker's "Defund the Police" policies in an unsafe city with its citizens victims of multiple shootings and death.
This injustice --being unjustly deprived of due process, if left unchecked, could befall any ethnic group or faction. It's not purely an "Italian" thing. It's universal. The Antifa lawlessness should not be rewarded by backing away from this fight.
On October 25, 2024 Italian-American Defense League (IADL) filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit against Mayor Justin Elicker and the city of New Haven for the unlawful removal of the Italian American community's statue of Christopher Columbus. Most unsettling was Mayor Elicker's closed door meetings, no meeting notes, and no record of an official vote to remove the statue from its base. Italian Americans were silenced by the mayor, history buried and the wishes of our ancestors ignored. We believe mayor’s disregard for historical preservation and cultural heritage is a violation of federal law, including historic preservation acts and due process, which allows us to request a finding that could set new case law for future monument cases.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed with the Italian-American Defense League and Plaintiff Ralph Marcarelli on three key points that the lower court disagreed with in its ruling; however, the Appeals Court disagreed with us on the crucial fourth point.
1. The plaintiffs have therefore plausibly alleged an aesthetic injury based on the removal of the statue.
2. The complaint likewise satisfied the requirements of causation and redressability.
3. The complaint sufficiently alleged that IADL has members with (associational) standing.
4. The plaintiffs have not identified any protected property or liberty interest in the statue.
Therefore, the judgement of the district court is affirmed. Media contacted IADL and Attorney Norm Pattis. Pattis responded, “New Haven looted its history in response to the clamoring of a woke mob. Italian-Americans had as much standing to complain about it as did the protesters reacting to the killing of an arrestee in Minnesota.” He continued, “This decision is shameful.” I stated, “Mayor Justin Elicker and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro betrayed the Italian community when they chose lawlessness over history.” Regarding next steps, I added, “The IADL and Ralph Marcarelli will consider all options in our pursuit of justice.”
100% of your donation will fund this legal and preservation effort including holding Mayor Justin Elicker accountable for his actions. The legal effort is being spearheaded by New Haven attorney and litigator Norman Pattis, the IADL, and Plaintiff Ralph Marcarelli.
This is a landmark legal fight and political battle we can win — together. No one can carry the burden alone. Be one of the 300 donors of $100 who keep the hope of Italian Americans alive.