The Federation of Italian-American Societies of WNY in a proactive measure announces the removal of the Christopher Columbus monument from Columbus Park. This was done at the behest of the Federation and the Federation only. The
Italian Federation would like to recognize and thank Mayor Byron Brown for his
dedicated efforts and steadfast support for our Federation and the Italian-American
Community of WNY. Mayor Brown’s leadership was critical to the Federation’s
successful efforts on this issue to provide a positive example of peaceful change in
our community.
While the Columbus monument was erected by the Federation to recognize and
honor the early struggles faced by Italian immigrants in the United States, it is the
desire of the current Federation to dedicate a new monument that reflects the
positive history of the Italian immigrant experience.
Our WNY community is comprised of a wonderfully interwoven mosaic of rich and
varied cultures and traditions. Our decision to remove the monument is in keeping
with our community’s tradition of cultural unity through diversity. In that vein, the
Federation has made the following requests which have been accepted by Mayor
Brown: 1) The City will restore ownership of the Columbus statue to the Federation
(who originally paid for and erected the statue in the 1930’s), 2) The Columbus
statue will be stored at a location as selected by the Federation and the City of
Buffalo, until future display at location determined by the Federation. 3) The
Columbus statue is to be replaced at the current park location with a monument to
be commissioned by the Federation with City approval, honoring our Italian
immigrants, 4) The park will be renamed in dedication to Italian-American Heritage,
as the West Side for one hundred years had been the “Historic Little Italy of
Buffalo”. The name will be chosen by the Federation in consultation with the city to
ensure a park that is welcoming to members of all cultures of WNY, and 5) the City
of Buffalo will annually recognize the second Monday of October (October 12 th this
year) as Italian Heritage Day and the month of October as Italian Heritage Month as
is currently recognized throughout the State of New York.
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Former President Donald Trump has a new demeaning nickname for Maggie Haberman, the New York Times reporter who revealed unflattering details about his criminal trial behavior and challenged his excuses for a lack of protesters outside.
The former president laid out his new insults Tuesday in a lengthy Truth Social rant in which he also argued his supporters had been blocked by police from gathering outside the Manhattan court house where his hush money trial is unfolding.
"Thousands of people were turned away from the Courthouse in Lower Manhattan by steel stanchions and police, literally blocks from the tiny side door from where I enter and leave," Trump wrote. "It is an armed camp to keep people away."
This is a repeat of an earlier claim debunked by reporters at the scene who say it is blatantly false.
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"Maggot Hagerman of The Failing New York Times, falsely reported that I was disappointed with the crowds," Trump declared. "No, I’m disappointed with Maggot, and her lack of writing skill, and that some of these many police aren’t being sent to Columbia and NYU to keep the schools open and the students safe. The Legal Scholars call the case a Scam that should never have been brought. I call it Election Interference and a personal hit job by a conflicted and corrupt Judge who shouldn’t be allowed to preside over this Political Hoax. New York Justice is being reduced to ashes, and the World is breathlessly watching. Hopefully, Appellate Courts can save it, and all of the companies that are fleeing to other jurisdictions. They can no longer take a chance on New York Justice!"
Haberman, who has been covering Trump for years, long enjoyed close access to him while he was in the White House, even posing with him for a smiling photo. But Trump's attitude toward Haberman has soured as she has covered his behavior in the courtroom, including his embarrassing inability to stay awake.
Trump's other claim in the post, that huge crowds of his supporters turned up to rally for him in Manhattan and were turned away by police, also appears not to be true, as NBC News' Vaughn Hillyard posted video footage of the streets around the courthouse open to traffic, and barely anyone demonstrating in support of the former president.
Haberman herself has also debunked the idea that local streets were closed off during the trial, a point that has further enraged Trump.
