Sicilian Culture: The News & Views: Sons of Italy/Commission for Social Justice Endorses AIDA Lawsuit Against Sopranos

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Sons of Italy/Commission for Social Justice
Endorses AIDA Lawsuit Against Sopranos
Washington, DC, April 6, 2001 - The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the largest and longest-established organization of American men and women of Italian heritage in the world, and its anti-defamation arm the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) have endorsed a lawsuit filed by the American Italian Defense Association against HBO for its discriminatory series “The Sopranos.”
“We strongly support the spirit of the lawsuit,” said OSIA National President Philip R. Boncore, Esq. “The nefarious images that glorify crime, adultery, and other heinous acts and encourage the public to associate those behaviors with Italian Americans should be declared a desecration to the collective Italian-American dignity.”
AIDA is one of a growing list of individuals, organizations, and municipalities that are rejecting “The Sopranos” because of its false, defamatory content. Essex County, N.J., officials prohibited “The Sopranos” from filming in the county. The Columbus Citizens Foundation refused to allow “The Sopranos” cast members to march in this year’s Columbus Day Parade in New York City. William Paterson University in New Jersey also recently denied permission for “The Sopranos” to film on its campus.
“The tide is changing,” said CSJ President John Dabbene. “More people in the position to shun ‘The Sopranos’ are doing so because they realize the detrimental effects it has on the country’s fifth largest ethnic population - the Italian Americans who have contributed so positively to this nation and the world.”
Established in 1905, OSIA has long been a leader in the promotion of Italian culture in the United States, and abroad. The Commission for Social Justice was founded to ensure equal treatment, concern, respect, and freedom for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, or sex. The CSJ is particularly dedicated to eliminating false, negative portrayals of Italian Americans in the media and entertainment industries and replacing them with true, positive, and affirming portrayals.
For more information on OSIA or the CSJ contact them at
(202) 547-2900 or nationaloffice@osia.org, or visit www.osia.org
Contact: Diane E. Crespy, Communications Manager
(202) 547-2900, daytime (703) 628-0681, evenings and weekends Email dcrespy@osia.org

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