The Italian-American Civil Rights League (Originally as the Italian American Anti-Defamation League) formed as a political group in and around New York City in the early 1970s.
It never achieved quite the same success as the Jewish ADL (1913) it tried modeling itself after. 1/
It never achieved quite the same success as the Jewish ADL (1913) it tried modeling itself after. 1/
Next stop — cultural slights.
The word "mafia" in official documents about mafia members…No good!
The terms "Mafia" and "Cosa Nostra" in a mob movie? Out!
Spicy meatballs? Too spicy 🍝 2/
The word "mafia" in official documents about mafia members…No good!
The terms "Mafia" and "Cosa Nostra" in a mob movie? Out!
Spicy meatballs? Too spicy 🍝 2/
Even ol' blue eyes showed up to lend his support... 3/
Sadly, all of this important work was soon to be put on ice🥶
A year after its founding, the group’s spiritual founder, mobster Joseph Colombo, was shot in the head three times at an outdoor rally. 4/
A year after its founding, the group’s spiritual founder, mobster Joseph Colombo, was shot in the head three times at an outdoor rally. 4/
The main theory for the hit was that other Mafia bosses in New York ordered it — because they did not like the media attention Colombo and the group were drawing to the mob. 5/
