Protests erupted on July 21 outside the Astoria office of Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, causing chaos between opposing groups. Supporters of the Italian American Civil Rights League gathered, displaying American and Italian flags, denouncing Mamdani for perceived disrespect towards Italian-American heritage. They rallied against Mamdani due to his offensive remarks towards symbols of their culture, which included a controversial image of him with a middle finger at a Columbus statue. Meanwhile, Mamdani supporters countered with slogans criticizing him while confrontations escalated into intense exchanges.
"We are here today ... because of a symbol of Italian-American pride, our ancestry. We will not be erased. And we are the manifestation of that today," said Frank J. Spotorno, one of the organizers and a member of the IACRL.
"This is not about a statue. This is about who we are," said Gerard Marrone, vice president of the IACRL. "We are the breed of courage and perseverance. We will not be erased."
#political-protests #cultural-heritage #new-york-city-elections #italian-american-rights #socialist-politics
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