Organizations Uniting to Protect Columbus’ Legacy

After the vandalized attacks towards Christopher Columbus’ reputation across the US, five prominent Italo-American organizations formed a foundation dedicated to Columbus to honor his historical impact.

The National Columbus Education Foundation, backed by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, The Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), UNICO National, The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy (OSDIA), intends to distribute studies based on the research and analysis of the Genovese-navigator. The main focus for the foundation is to preserve Columbus Day and to correct the false facts in which Christopher was condemned, as well as educating the general audience why Columbus Day should still be celebrated as the acknowledgement of the birth of a new continent.

These five Italo-American groups have compiled many sources to assist the education of the explorer, these materials include such as multimedia content, books, documentaries, films and art. This has been planned in order to be accessible to anyone interested in the topic and to break free from the one-sided based history known across the US.

“We felt it was our civic duty to present and defend the other side of the story” said Angelo Vivolo, the head of the new organization.

The foundation is set to be launched as KnowColumbus.org in order to eliminate all the false facts and to explore the broad range of approached to be taken when learning about history and culture and by promoting and active discussion to verify the great accomplishments made by the Columbus. “At this critical moment in American social history, we really want to correct historical wrongs” said John M. Viola, executive director of the foundation.

–Alex Heymert Siles