WORCESTER - The head of the Mount Carmel Preservation Society wants the local Italian community to have a say in the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue in front of Union Station and whether Columbus Day should continue to be observed as a holiday in the city.
In an email sent to city councilors Monday, Mauro DePasquale, president of the group, said the Italian community "justly deserves" the right to control and have a say in the fate of its own culture, achievements, history and historic artifacts, including holidays.
He said the same should be the case for all other ethnic and Indigenous groups with their own heritage.
"To abandon and erase history is a mistake," DePasquale wrote. "We are the sum total of history, warts and all."
He said the Italian community suffered the loss of a very important historic artifact, gathering and sacred space when Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church was razed last year. He described the church as the heart of the local Italian community.
He said the community is now experiencing what seems to be more of its culture being ripped away, with calls to remove the Columbus statue and talk about doing away with Columbus Day in Worcester.
District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera has filed an order for Tuesday night's council meeting calling on City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. to work with the local Italian American community to remove the Columbus statue, and replace it with an appropriate statue or memorial to honor the many contributions of Worcester’s Italian community.
In late June, the statue was vandalized, with red paint splashed on it and the word "genocide" written on it.
"Considering the devastating loss of our church, many feel it is insensitive to exclude the Italian voice when it comes to matter relative to Italian heritage and that is what we believe has happened in Worcester so far with the vandalism of the statue," DePasquale wrote.
"There should be a cooperative public discussion," he continued. "Without due process and inclusiveness, removing the statue would be arguably unjust. I hope our city leadership stands with Mount Carmel Preservation Society to advocate for such a space to allow for the preservation of Italian culture and for the voices of Italians to be heard. I think it is fine to have other holidays and statues to celebrate diversity and indigenous cultures, but not at the expense of the Italian culture."
DePasquale acknowledged that not all Italians agree with him or buy into the argument that all of America was built on a malignant purpose.
He said many would object to the removal of some statues, while others may feel differently.
"Many are opened to learning, and growing and exploring the various and opposing arguments," he said. "I've seen many different levels of thought on this subject. Who is to decide?
"I do not think it's a good idea to abandon history just because we do not agree with it," he added. "Who is to say what society is allowing or accepting of today will not be seen as horrible, cruel, and despicable tomorrow?"
DePasquale said if the Columbus Day holiday is replaced through a public process, it would be a just step to replace it with a commemoration of some other achievement of historical accomplishment related to the Italian culture and heritage.
The Link LonkJuly 21, 2020 at 03:19AM
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Columbus statue, holiday in Worcester: Mount Carmel group leader wants local Italian Americans to have a say - Worcester Telegram
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