The NY Daily News reports that you have invited members of the cast of  
The Sopranos to march with you in the Columbus Day Parade.

I urge you in the most respectful, but yet urgent manner to reconsider.

The Sopranos marching in a Parade of Italian American Pride is SACRILEGE!!! 

The Sopranos are an anathema to a large segment of the Italian American Community, including ALL the Major Italian American Organizations including, Coalition of Italo-American Associations (CIAA), National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), Order of Sons of Italy (OSIA), UNICO, and the Italian Americans One Voice (IAOV) among SO many others.  

The Sopranos reinforces the VERY worst Negative Italian American Stereotype,
while it also glorifies Violence against Women, Criminal activity, ant the lowest forms of Moral conduct.

Ex Mayor Giuliani, despite his being a Soprano fan, exercised good judgment, 
by being sensitive to the feelings of the Italian American Community.

It is my fervent wish that you will not insult so many of us Italian Americans who 
currently hold you in high regard.

Respectfully,
Richard A. Annotico
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GOODBYE COLUMBUS BAN ON 'SOPRANOS'? 

The New York Daily News
Wednesday, October 9, 2002

Will the cast of 'The Sopranos' be marching in this year's Columbus Day parade? 

He has ousted a schools chancellor and may well banish smokers from restaurants, but can Mayor Bloomberg get members of "The Sopranos" into the Columbus Day parade? Defying the Caesars who rule the annual procession of Italian-American pride, Hizzoner has invited the cast of the hit HBO show to march with him on Monday.

Ever since the program first aired, parade officials have condemned it for perpetuating the stereotype of Italians as gangsters - and barred any "Sopranos" actor from their festivities. Even "Sopranos" fan Rudy Giuliani didn't dare try to override the parade committee.

But yesterday, mayoral adviser Vincent LaPadula confirmed that Bloomberg had invited Lorraine Bracco, who plays Dr. Melfi, and Dominic Chianese, who plays Uncle Junior, to join him on Monday. 

"They've accepted," said LaPadula, adding that the whole "Sopranos" crew is welcome. "The more the merrier."

LaPadula said the mobsters-on-Prozac saga is "a show that many Italian-Americans love. It's entertainment. This is a fun day. I would hope that [officials] won't make a big thing."

But they are: Columbus Citizens Foundation president Larry Auriana told us: "This is the first we've heard of it. They aren't welcome. I can't imagine the mayor would show up with uninvited guests offensive to the organizers of the parade."

A rep for "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini said he didn't plan to march, but only because "he doesn't make a lot of public appearances. He's a private guy."

William Fugazy, president of the Coalition of Italo-American Associations, said he plans to express his outrage to the mayor and encourage Italian-Americans to "voice their opposition."

Fugazy contended that his past tirades had inspired a recent episode in which American Indian protesters try to disrupt a Columbus Day parade.

"I'm flattered that they dedicated an entire episode on this issue," said Fugazy. An HBO rep wouldn't comment, but a source close to the show said Fugazy "was flattering himself."

NY Daily News - Home 
http://www.nydailynews.com/10-09-2002/news/story/25534p-24150c.html 
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ACCENTUATE the Positive, ELIMINATE the Negative!!!!

Speaking out with One Voice against Negative Stereotyping 

Italian-American One Voice Coalition is a national network of activists enabling the Italian American community to act as one united voice when dealing with defamation, discrimination and negative stereotyping.

Member organizations provide a liaison with the IA One Voice Coalition to disseminate information to the Italian American community and protest with one voice against each outrage against our heritage, culture and character. 

Italian American One Voice - Who We Are 

Web Site:
Italian American One Voice Coalition 
http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iaindex.html