This "Enemy Alien" Experience caused many I-As to change their names, 
ceased speaking their ancestral language and shed cultural traditions to 
demonstrate beyond any doubt their loyalty to America.  Sadly, the full impact 
on their culture may never be fully known." 

We do know however, that our children are not presented the opportunity to 
know anything more about their rich culture than "macaroni" and "mafia". 

What are we going to do about it ????
=========================================================
Exhibition: When America's Italians Were America's Enemies 
(At the Italian American Museum in Manhattan Through February 2003) 

"PRISONERS IN OUR OWN HOME"
The Italian American Experience as America's Enemy Aliens

An exhibition about the fear, uncertainty and suffering of Italian resident
aliens designated by the United States government as "enemy aliens" during
World War II.  This exhibition focuses on the East Coast and examines the
contemporary impact of those restrictions.

This exhibition runs through February 2003 at the:

Italian American Museum
in transitional residence at the 
John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College/CUNY
28 West 44th Street, 17th Floor, New York, New York
(212) 642-2020
info@ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
 
 

Press Release:

When America's Italians Were America's Enemies:
An Exploration of Civil Liberties in Crisis
At the Italian American Museum in mid-Manhattan

Clara Orsini, twelve years old, was in seventh grade when government agents
came to her home without warning one day and took her mother and grandfather
away.

The year was 1941.  A powerful foreign enemy had shocked America. At home, a
nation's civil liberties were cast aside in the name of domestic security.
Now, more than 60 years later, the Italian American Museum explores
America's civil liberties in crisis as a new generation responds to a new
enemy and the atrocities of September 11, 2001.

"Prisoners in Our Own Home:  The Italian American Experience as America's
Enemy Aliens," examines the systematic profiling of more than 600,000
Italian resident aliens as "enemy aliens" during World War II.  The exhibit
opened Friday, October 11, 2002 at 28 West 44th Street, 17th floor, with a
ceremony honoring three who survived the ordeal, including then-seventh
grader Ms. Clara Orsini-Romano.  The New York City Council, Speaker Gifford
Miller and former Speaker Peter F. Vallone were also recognized for their
generous financial support of "Prisoners in Our Home," which will travel to
schools across New York City beginning in April, 2003. 

In New York City, home to the nation's largest Italian American population
and led by Italian American Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Italian immigrants
were photographed, fingerprinted and registered with the Department of
Justice and the FBI.  The government told Italian resident aliens to stay
off the streets after dark. Daytime travel was restricted. To walk the
streets or subway to work,  Italian resident aliens in New York City carried
bright pink enemy alien passbooks, with photo ID and fingerprint.  Failure
to produce the passbook upon demand of a government agent often resulted in
arrest. Spoken Italian in public places was officially discouraged by the
Federal government.

In Washington, D.C. the attorney general decreed that an Italian resident
alien's  "enemy alien" status alone was tantamount to probable cause,
effectively suspending the Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable
search and seizure. Under this decree, search warrants could be obtained
without any showing of suspicious activity or evidence of a crime.
Authorities in New York City and elsewhere raided more than 2,900 homes of
Italian immigrants who did not hold American citizenship.  They seized
flashlights, cameras, binoculars, firearms and short wave radios. 

More than 2,100 Italians in America were taken into custody.  Some were held
in prison camps until the end of the war.  Some escaped these hardships, but
as the exhibit demonstrates, few Italian Americans, be they American
citizens or enemy aliens-could escape the shame and fear and stigma tied to
these laws and the war that raged with Italy, Germany and Japan.

Mothers, laborers, opera stars, even the great Yankee Joe DiMaggio felt the
sting of the "enemy alien" act.  Wartime restrictions applied to DiMaggio's
father, a fisherman, who was prohibited as an enemy alien from plying his
trade or even visiting his son's waterside restaurant in San Francisco.

"As we today struggle to preserve civil liberties and ensure homeland
security, we cannot forget the lessons of the past when our nation targeted
populations, such as Italian immigrants, solely because of ethnic background
or country of origin," said the Executive Director of the College's John D. Calandra
Italian American Institute, which collaborated with the Italian American
Museum on the exhibit.

"The New York City Council has been a leader in the call for a Federal
investigation into the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II,"
said former Speaker Peter F. Vallone. "I'm pleased that we were able to
provide Council funding for this exhibit which explores the human dimensions
of the Department of Justice report.  School children throughout the city
will now know the truth. I urge students of history of all ages to reflect
on the important message of "Prisoners in Our Own Home."

City Council Speaker Gifford Miller said, "These so-called "enemy aliens"
and their families were, in fact, loyal Americans.  More than a half million
Italian Americans fought against the Axis powers, including 70,000
servicemen who were sons of enemy aliens.  Their sacrifice was great, yet
Italian immigrants and their children suffered in silence during the war
years, as this exhibit shows.  Many changed their names, ceased speaking
their ancestral language and shed cultural traditions to demonstrate beyond
any doubt their loyalty to America.  Sadly, the full impact on their culture
may never be fully known."

Queens College President James Muyskens said, "This important exhibit
reminds us all that the freedoms we cherish are freedoms every generation
must fight to preserve.  I am especially pleased that this message will be
taken to our school children over the coming months so that they may better
understand the liberties many take for granted."

The exhibition runs through February 2003 at the Museum on West 44th Street.
The exhibit is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. and by appointment.  Educators will be able to access
documents, download curriculum and view lesson plans by visiting the museum
website: www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org, where a virtual tour will also be
available. 

Prisoners in Our Own Home:
The Italian American Experience as America's Enemy Aliens

Exhibition Curator: 
Peter Vellon, the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute

Exhibition Coordinator: 
Geoffrey Claroni, the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute

Exhibition Design: 
Vincent Ciulla Design Associates, Inc., Brooklyn, New York
 

Italian American Museum
in transitional residence at the 
John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, CUNY
28 West 44th Street, 17th Floor
New York, New York
telephone:  (212) 642-2020
facsimile:  (212) 642-2069
Info@ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org