Italian American group demands Tim Walz step down: ‘Enemy of the community’

The Italian American Civil Rights League demanded that Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) step down as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate over his alleged racism toward Italian Americans.

IACRL board member Mike Crispi, a Trump delegate, published a letter from the group on X accusing Walz of racism and calling him an "enemy of the Italian American Community," largely over his handling of the riots surrounding the death of George Floyd. During the 2020 unrest, protesters tore down a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus, which led to criticism against Walz and his lieutenant governor.

"Tim Walz did nothing to stop radical vandals from targeting the most prominent symbol of Italian-American culture in a flagrant hate crime," Crispi said. "He knew they were coming and he did nothing to protect the statue."

"His record as Governor in Minnesota is the most disgraceful record of any governor in the last decade," he continued. "From allowing rioters to pillage and plunder to standing-down when the mob came for the Columbus statue, Walz allowed the North Star State to become an exemplar of cultural Marxism run amok."

Crispi then accused Walz and his "cronies" of colluding with "anti-Italian American sympathizers" to keep the statue down.

Crispi didn't approve of naysayers, including one Italian immigrant who disputed Columbus representing Italy and proclaimed his support for Harris and Walz.

"Shut up geek," Crispi responded.

Crispi is a Republican and Trump delegate, according to his X profile. His page is filled with anti-Democratic posts.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign and Walz's office for comment.

After Walz was selected as Harris's running mate, his response to the 2020 Floyd riots came back under scrutiny. After protesters tore down a Columbus statue, he said in a press conference that "there would be consequences" but that their frustrations were legitimate and that he sympathized with them.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan took the stage after and the temperature was raised.

"I'm not going to perform for folks. I'm not going to feign sadness," she said , adding that "there is no honor in the legacy of Christopher Columbus."

State Republicans denounced Walz's response, saying his office had advanced knowledge of plans to tear down the statue but did nothing.

Columbus, hailing from the then-key trading center of Genoa, is viewed as a symbol of Italian American pride, and Columbus Day often doubles as a celebration of Italian American heritage.

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However, because of the violence and disease that followed Columbus's arrival in the Americas, he is seen as a villain by many, with Oct. 14 also celebrated as Indigenous Peoples' Day.

The first celebrations of Columbus Day were a show of solidarity with mistreated Italian immigrants, with President Benjamin Harrison declaring the first one-time celebration of Columbus Day in 1892 after 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans in the largest single mass lynching in American history. After years of advocacy, it became a federal holiday starting in 1971.