Italian Americans Against Ethnic Stereotyping November 2, 2018 Patrick Cullen President NYS Supreme Court Officers Association 80 Broad St., Ste. 1200 New York, NY 10004 Mr. Dennis Quirk President NYS Court Officers Association 321 Broadway New York, NY 10007 Dear Mr. Cullen and Mr. Quirk: We have learned that on the evening of October 23, 2018, New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore attended an event at the New York County Courthouse where you and a fellow union president had organized a demonstration with approximately 60 persons in attendance. Many people in the crowd were wearing blue shirts that displayed, together with the image of a scale of justice, the following text: OCA Office of Court Administration Organized Crime Association Beaver Street Bullies We support the right of workers to organize and express legitimate workplace grievances but the use of ethnic stereotypes is completely inappropriate and unacceptable. It is especially troubling for our community when the term “organized crime association” is directed at the first Chief Judge of Italian American descent in the history of New York State. Your use of a message that helps to perpetuate despicable ethnic stereotypes needs to stop. Your attack on one member of community is an attack on every member of our community. On behalf of the approximately 25 million Italian Americans who have been tarnished by your discriminatory behavior, we call on you to issue a public apology for your degrading and disrespectful conduct toward Chief Judge DiFiore and the entire Italian American community. Behavior against any group in our society should not be tolerated, especially by employees of our court system who have dedicated their lives to upholding our very system of government. Candidly, we expected better from you. Sincerely, John Calvelli, Chair, Italian American Forum/Vice Chair, National Italian American Foundation Steve Acunto, Chair, Italian American Foundation John Alati, Chair Emeritus, Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations Dr. Manny Alfano, President, The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition Page 1 Gene Antonio, President, Belleville Chapter of UNICO National Michael Arena, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Joe Armentano, Board Member, Italian American Forum Lawrence Auriana, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Maria S. Bartiromo, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Janice Galli Becker, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Gina Biancardi, President, Casa Belvedere, The Italian Cultural Foundation Kevin Caira, National President, OSIA Commission for Social Justice Linda Carlozzi, Chair, Italian Welfare League Michael Caruso, Board Member, Italian American Forum Domenick Ciaccia, Vice Chair, Italian American Forum Marco Circelli , Executive Director, Filitalia International Matthew Classi, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Elisa Coccia, President, Coccia Foundation James D'Arcangelo, Board Member, Italian American Forum Gabriele Delmonaco, President, A Chance in Life (Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy) Michael DeSapio, President, Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County Jason Desena Trennert. Board Member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Robert DiBiase, Chair , New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission Geri DiCostanzo, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Chris DiMattio, President, La Festa Italiana in Lacakawanna County, PA John DiNapoli, President, UNICO Foundation Joseph DiTrapani, National Foundation President, Order Sons of Italy Anthony Enea, Board Member, Italian American Forum Vera Ferrara Girolami, National President, Order Sons of Italy in America Robert Ferrito, New York State President, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Rachel Filasto, Chair, FIERI Scholarship Fund Phil Foglia, Counsel, Counsel for Italian American Legal Defense and Higher Education Fund Bob Fonti, President, Lt Joseph Petrosino Association in America John Fratta, Chair, NYS Commission for Social Justice Frank G. Fusaro, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Alfred Fusco, District Governor CT-1, UNICO National Anthony F. Giordano, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Joseph Guagliardo, President, National Council of Columbia Associations Joseph Gurrera, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Christopher Loiacono, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation John Mancini, Executive Director, Italic Institute of America Victor Musso, President, American Italian Federation of the Southeast Hon. Frank Nicolai, Chair Emeritus, Westchester Italian Cultural Center Lee Norelli, President, UNICO National Silvano D. Orsi, President, Little Italy Association of Rochester, NY Berardo Paradiso, President, IACE Marian Pardo, President, Columbus Citizens Foundation Michael Pedone , Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Phyllis Perillo, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation David A. Pope, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Joan Prezioso, President, Italian Welfare League Larry Purpuro, Chief Executive Officer, National Italian American Foundation Michael Rodi, Counsel, Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations Joseph Ruhl, Board Member, Italian American Forum Page 2 Basil M. Russo, National President, Italian Sons & Daughters of America Sal Salibello, Board Member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Pat Santangelo, President, Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of the Bronx and Westchester Joseph Scelsa, President, Italian American Museum Joseph Sciame, President/Chair, Italian Heritage and Culture Committee, NY Carlo Sclafani, Co-President, Westchester Coalition of Italian American Organizations Aileen Riotto Sirey, Chair, Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations Joseph Solimine, Board Member, Italian American Forum Daniele Stabile, President, National COPILAS Anthony Tamburri, Dean, The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute Maria Tamburri, Chair, National Organization of Italian American Women James Veneruso, Board Member, Italian American Forum Aldo Verrelli, Board member, Columbus Citizens Foundation Angelo Vivolo, Chair, Columbus Heritage Coalition Contact information: John Calvelli 917-225-2948 jfcalvelli@aol.com Page 3