Session #105 · 1997–99

Speech #1050049398

In Westbury. Long Island. most Italian American organizations suspended their traditional feast celebrations for the duration of the war except for the DellAssunta Society which insisted it be allowed to march on the village streets during its festival. on the grounds that it was a religious not an ethnic celebration. Robert Masulla. writing for the Italic Way Newsletter. cited that Italian immigrant fishermen were denied their livelihood and some "even had their boats impounded by the U.S. government and utilized for patrol and minesweeping duties". It was not until October 12. 1942 that Italian immigrants were removed from the enemy alien category. Mr. Foxs historical study indicated that the internment effort was abandoned because the alien relocation would overly tax the U.S. Armys already overextended logistical network. threaten the defense industry and lower civilian morale. In 1988. this body finally faced a terrible past that we could no longer ignorethe internment of immigrants from Japan or JapaneseAmericans. Now it is time to provide recognition and remorsefulness for the treatment of Italian aliens and Italian Americans who had to endure the horrific actions of our own governmenta government that has stood for freedom. not oppression. That is why I have joined with my colleagues in the House of Representatives. particularly its lead sponsors.
Keywords matched
immigrant immigrants

Classification

Target group
Also mentioned
Japanese Japanese Americans
Sentiment
Mixed
Stereotyping
No
Confidence
95%
Model
gemini-2.0-flash
Framing
Victim Legal / procedural

Speaker & context

Speaker
ALFONSE DAMATO
Party
R
Chamber
S
State
NY
Gender
M
Date
1997-06-27
Speech ID
1050049398
Paragraph
#2
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