No recognition is given Not only to the 10,000 Italians relocated on the West Coast, and thousands of others through out the US,  (and what chance was there of Italy invading the West Coast. let alone the East Coast) but that 600,000 Italians in the US were required to Register as "Enemy Aliens" and subjected to strict Restrictions on movement, after dark curfews, among a long list. This was while 700,000 Italian Americans served in the US Military. 
 
Side Note: Sgt John Basilone is the star of the 10 part HBO Series "Pacific" currently in it's 3rd week. 

Polling stations, red-light camera tickets and the internment of Italian Americans during WWII get the nod from State Sen. Joe Simitian

....The final contest winner, "An Acknowledgement and an Apology: Civil Rights and the Wrongful Internment of Italian Americans," was proposed by Chet Campanella and is a "recycled" winner from 2007. At the time, Simitian authored legislation to address the problem, but the bill was vetoed. 

Simitian's decision to revisit the issue was based in part on conversations with staff in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, who expressed a willingness to give the issue a "fresh look," according to Simitian.

During World War II, the United States government designated more than 100,000 California residents as "aliens" and forced many to leave their homes or endure other hardships. While the majority of those targeted were of Japanese descent, 10,000 Italian Americans were among those relocated. 

Campanella, a resident of San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood, proposed that the State of California acknowledge these events and issue an official apology to Italian Americans for the wartime treatment of Italian Americans. Campanella's parents, while not interned, were subjected to a curfew and searches of their home.

"We refer to it as the 'untold story' because it was classified. No one was supposed to know about it," Campanella stated. "Younger people probably didn't know that this ever happened. I love this country, and I think a formal apology is so important to the older people, the survivors, before we die." 

Simitian has introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 95 that would formally acknowledge the experience of California's Italian American community and express regret for the State's role in the internment of Italians and Italian-Americans during World War II.

"The mass internment of California residents was a sad chapter for our state. For survivors of that experience and their descendants, I hope this resolution will provide a long-over due measure of recognition and respect," Simitian stated.

The winners will have their bill ideas introduced as legislation, have the opportunity to testify at a committee hearing on their bill, lunch with Senator Simitian at the State Capitol, and also receive a California State flag that has flown over the Capitol. 

"But the real prize," Simitian stated, "is knowing that your idea has the potential of affecting 38 million Californians."

Since Simitian created the contest nine years ago, other legislators have launched "There Oughta Be A Law" contests in California and around the country, according to Simitian's office.

To date, 15 winning ideas in Simitian's contest have been signed into law. Information about "There Oughta Be a Law" can be found at [www.senatorsimitian.com Simitian's website.] 

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=16275
 
 

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