IAOVC - Italian American One Voice Coalition

IAOVC is a nationwide network of activist organizaitons that combat discrimination and negative stereotyping through education about Italian American heritage and culture.

Over the past several years, cities, school boards and universities across America have fallen victim to authoritarian policies of renaming Columbus Day or seeking removal of statues and monuments of Christopher Columbus. In addition, these policies have also encouraged the desecration and destruction of monuments across the USA.

We believe this legislation of hate is a blatant violation of our civil rights and deserves to be challenged. Millions of Italian Americans celebrate Columbus Day as part of their culture and have done so for many decades. It is a proud immigrant symbol and statement of inclusion into American society.

Before the statues and monuments were erected and the holiday celebrated, Italian Americans were victims of extreme violence and discrimination. We do not seek to revisit those times.

When elected officials use government power to strip an ethnic group of their civil rights, it is unconstitutional and therefore requires grassroots action.