{"id":2321354,"date":"2024-08-08T16:31:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T20:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/italian-american-group-demands-tim-walz-step-down-enemy-of-the-community-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-08T16:33:38","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T20:33:38","slug":"italian-american-group-demands-tim-walz-step-down-enemy-of-the-community-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/italian-american-group-demands-tim-walz-step-down-enemy-of-the-community-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian American group demands Tim Walz step down: \u2018Enemy of the community\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fitalian-american-group-demands-tim-walz-step-down-enemy-of-the-community-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2321354&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Italian American\u2063 Civil \u2063Rights League (IACRL)\u200d has called for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to resign as Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-reveals-2024-running-mate-could-be-one-of-his-gop-opponents\/\" title=\"Trump hints at potential 2024 running mate from GOP rivals.\">running \u200cmate<\/a>, citing allegations of racism against Italian Americans. The group&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-please-pardon-jon-woods-a-victim-of-process-crimes-like-michael-flynn\/\" title=\"President Trump, Please Pardon Jon Woods, a Victim of Process Crimes Like Michael Flynn\">board member<\/a>, Mike Crispi, criticized Walz for his \u2063inaction during the 2020 protests following George Floyd&#8217;s death when a \u2062statue \u2064of Christopher Columbus was torn down, describing it as \u2063a &#8220;flagrant hate \u2063crime.&#8221; \u200cCrispi accused Walz of colluding with anti-Italian\u200b American sympathizers and claimed his governance has led to cultural \u2063degradation \u200bin Minnesota. This uproar has reignited \u2062debate over Walz\u2019s handling of\u200d the statue&#8217;s removal and his response to the protests at the time. The IACRL&#8217;s stance\u2064 points to broader cultural tensions \u2063surrounding historical figures and their legacies in American society.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Italian American group demands Tim Walz step down: &lsquo;Enemy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-run-of-the-mill-politician-gay-new-jersey-republican-hopes-to-flip-senate-seat-with-historic-win-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"No \u2018run-of-the-mill politician\u2019: Gay New Jersey Republican hopes to flip Senate seat with historic win - Washington Examiner\">community&#038;rsquo<\/a>;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1726242\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Italian American Civil Rights League demanded that Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Tim Walz\">Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN) step down as Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris's\">Kamala Harris&rsquo;s<\/a> running mate over his alleged racism toward Italian Americans.<\/p>\n<p>IACRL board member Mike Crispi, a Trump delegate, published a letter from the group on X accusing Walz of racism and calling him an &ldquo;enemy of the Italian American Community,&rdquo; largely over his handling of the riots surrounding the death of George Floyd. During the 2020 unrest, protesters tore down a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus, which led to criticism against Walz and his lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tim Walz did nothing to stop radical vandals from targeting the most prominent symbol of Italian-American culture in a flagrant hate crime,&rdquo; Crispi said. &ldquo;He knew they were coming and he did nothing to protect the statue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: Tim Walz is an enemy of the Italian American Community. <\/p>\n<p>He has a long history of being in favor of erasing our culture. He strongly has supported the removal of Christopher Columbus statues. <\/p>\n<p>We will call it for what it is: racism. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheIACRL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TheIACRL<\/a> demands he drops out. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VBCtpNYbaM\">pic.twitter.com\/VBCtpNYbaM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeCrispi\/status\/1821566842260820060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;His record as Governor in Minnesota is the most disgraceful record of any governor in the last decade,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;From allowing rioters to pillage and plunder to standing-down when the mob came for the Columbus statue, Walz allowed the North Star State to become an exemplar of cultural Marxism run amok.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Crispi then accused Walz and his &ldquo;cronies&rdquo; of colluding with &ldquo;anti-Italian American sympathizers&rdquo; to keep the statue down.<\/p>\n<p>Crispi didn&rsquo;t approve of naysayers, including one Italian immigrant who disputed Columbus representing Italy and proclaimed his support for Harris and Walz.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Shut up geek,&rdquo; Crispi responded.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shut up geek<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeCrispi\/status\/1821583842614104187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Crispi is a Republican and Trump delegate, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MikeCrispi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according to<\/a> his X profile. His page is filled with anti-Democratic posts.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign and Walz&rsquo;s office for comment.<\/p>\n<p>After Walz was selected as Harris&rsquo;s running mate, his response to the 2020 Floyd riots came back under scrutiny. After protesters tore down a Columbus statue, he said in a press conference that &ldquo;there would be consequences&rdquo; but that their frustrations were legitimate and that he sympathized with them.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan took the stage after and the temperature was raised.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to perform for folks. I&rsquo;m not going to feign sadness,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.startribune.com\/walz-says-he-understands-why-columbus-statue-was-toppled-but-there-will-be-consequences\/571193802\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>she said<\/a>, adding that &ldquo;there is no honor in the legacy of Christopher Columbus.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>State Republicans denounced Walz&rsquo;s response, saying his office had advanced knowledge of plans to tear down the statue but did nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Columbus, hailing from the then-key trading center of Genoa, is viewed as a symbol of Italian American pride, and Columbus Day often doubles as a celebration of Italian American heritage. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, because of the violence and disease that followed Columbus&rsquo;s arrival in the Americas, he is seen as a villain by many, with Oct. 14 also celebrated as Indigenous Peoples&rsquo; Day.<\/p>\n<p>The first celebrations of Columbus Day were a show of solidarity with mistreated Italian immigrants, with President Benjamin Harrison declaring the first one-time celebration of Columbus Day in 1892 after 11 Italians were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/news\/the-grisly-story-of-americas-largest-lynching\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"lynched\">lynched<\/a> in New Orleans in the largest single mass lynching in American history. After years of advocacy, it became a federal holiday starting in 1971.<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1726242\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1726242\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Italian American Civil Rights League has called for Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) to resign as Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s running mate, accusing him of racism against Italian Americans. Mike Crispi, a board member of the IACRL and a Trump delegate, shared a letter on X that labeled Walz an &#8220;enemy of the Italian American Community,&#8221; primarily criticizing his response to the riots following George Floyd&#8217;s death. During the 2020 protests, demonstrators removed a statue of Christopher Columbus, which sparked backlash against Walz and his lieutenant governor. Crispi stated that &#8220;Tim Walz did nothing to prevent radical vandals from attacking a key symbol of Italian-American culture in what was clearly a hate crime,&#8221; asserting that he was aware of the impending actions but failed to protect the statue.<\/p>\n<p>Crispi further condemned Walz\u2019s tenure as governor, describing it as one of the most disgraceful in recent history due to his perceived inaction during riots and for allowing Minnesota to become an example of unchecked cultural Marxism. He accused Walz and his associates of collaborating with those who oppose Italian American interests regarding the statue&#8217;s removal. Crispi dismissed dissenting opinions from others, including an Italian immigrant who supported Harris and Walz.<\/p>\n<p>Crispi identifies as a Republican and Trump supporter on social media, where he frequently posts anti-Democratic content. The Washington Examiner reached out for comments from both Harris-Walz campaign representatives and Walz\u2019s office regarding these allegations. Following his selection as Harris\u2019s running mate, scrutiny arose over how he handled events during the 2020 Floyd protests; while acknowledging potential consequences for protesters who toppled the Columbus statue, he expressed understanding towards their frustrations.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan also spoke out after him at a press conference stating she would not pretend sadness over Columbus&#8217;s legacy\u2014asserting there is no honor associated with it\u2014which drew criticism from state Republicans who claimed that Walz had prior knowledge about plans to remove the statue yet took no action.<\/p>\n<p>Columbus is often seen as an emblematic figure representing Italian American pride; however, due to historical violence linked with his arrival in America, many view him negatively\u2014leading October 14th also being recognized as Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day instead. The initial observance of Columbus Day aimed at showing solidarity with oppressed Italian immigrants after significant violence against them in New Orleans led President Benjamin Harrison to declare its first celebration in 1892 following one such incident\u2014the largest mass lynching in U.S history involving eleven Italians\u2014and it became an official federal holiday by 1971 after years of advocacy efforts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2321355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Columbus.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[37577,35153,36160,36113,32076],"class_list":["post-2321354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-community-demands","tag-italian-american","tag-political-controversy","tag-tim-walz","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Columbus.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2321354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2321355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2321354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2321354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2321354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}