CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Violence between police and protestors at a downtown Christopher Colombus statue Friday night has Italian Americans in Chicago speaking up.
Italian Americans in Chicago want to talk with protestors they say have gone too far as a violent confrontation with police took place Friday night. Members of the Italian American community said they don't understand why other groups would want to work to destroy their heritage, and they don't understand why violence has to be involved.
"These people were throwing fireworks at the police, bottles, bricks, and then this kid had the nerve to get on TV and say they were getting in our face. Who was getting in whose face? And that is the trouble," said retired Judge Sam Amirante.
Amirante said Italian Americans worked hard to help build this country, while going about a right way to secure a national day to honor their contributions and monuments to their lineage.
"I'd like to see one of these alleged protesters or anarchist set sail from Spain and then survive a savage-infested land," he said.
Activist Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef, who represents indigenous groups said that statement alone is key in why the statue should be removed as it represents in a public space that indigenous people are nothing more than savages to be tamed in this country.
"We just want to make our point clear, why they feel the way they feel, and I cannot disagree with the way they feel, because I can relate to the way they feel," he said.
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Italian Americans want attempts to topple the Christopher Columbus at the Chicago Museum Campus to stop and they have invited activists to talk it out.
"Sit down with us. Sit down with the Italian leaders and let's talk. And we will show you the proper way of getting your message across. We are asking for peace, and you don't want to keep pushing the Italian Americans - and that is not a threat. We fought all of our lives for what we got and we will continue to fight."
The Rabbi, who is a leader in many of the demonstrations, agrees with the Italian Americans that it is time to sit together with elected officials and begin to talk it out, but he said protests will continue until a compromise is made.