Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 23–Assemblymen Dini, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

Joint Sponsors: Senators Raggio, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION—Welcoming the exhibit entitled “Una Storia Segreta” (A Secret Story) regarding the treatment of certain Italian Americans during World War II.

 

   Whereas, During World War II, more than 600,000 Italian-born

 immigrants living in the United States were classified as “enemy aliens”

 because they were not American citizens; and

   Whereas, The freedom of these immigrants and their families was

 hampered by the United States government with the imposition of

 measures that included requiring them to carry identification cards at all

 times, the seizure of personal property and restrictions on their travel; and

   Whereas, More than 10,000 Italian Americans living on the West

 Coast were forced to leave their homes and businesses and were prohibited

 from entering coastal zones, and many of these evacuees relocated to

 Nevada where housing and jobs were available; and

   Whereas, Another 50,000 Italian Americans who remained in their

 homes were subjected to harsh and unfair curfews; and

   Whereas, During this time, thousands of Italian-American immigrants

 were arrested and hundreds were interned in military camps; and

   Whereas, More than 500,000 Italian Americans performed exemplary

 service in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, and

 thousands sacrificed their lives in defense of the United States; and

   Whereas, At the time, Italians were the largest foreign-born group in

 the United States, and today are the fifth largest group of immigrants in

 the United States, numbering approximately 15 million; and

   Whereas, The impact of the wartime experience was devastating to

 Italian-American communities in the United States and its effects are still

 being felt; and

   Whereas, A deliberate policy of the United States government ensured

 that the story of the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II

 was kept secret from the public, and even today many of the details

 surrounding these events remain classified and the full story remains

 unknown to the public; and

   Whereas, The story of the treatment of Italian Americans during

 World War II needs to be told in order to acknowledge that these events

 happened, to remember those whose lives were unjustly disrupted and

 whose freedoms were violated, to help repair the damage to the Italian-

American community, and to discourage the occurrence of similar

injustices and violations of civil liberties in the future; and

   Whereas, In March 1993, at a conference sponsored by the American

 Italian Historical Association’s Western Regional Chapter, an exhibit to be

 known as “Una Storia Segreta” (A Secret Story) had its inception; and

   Whereas, This exhibit unveils a secret history that has remained

 hidden for over 50 years because of the silence which was first imposed by

 the United States government and then adopted as a protective cover by

 those whose lives were affected; and

   Whereas, Not only has the secret story concerning the Italian

 Americans during World War II been suppressed from historical accounts,

 but the Italian-American community itself has remained largely unaware

 of its existence; now, therefore, be it

   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

 Concurring, That the members of the 71st session of the Nevada

 Legislature welcome the exhibit entitled “Una Storia Segreta” (A Secret

 Story) to the Las Vegas Art Museum where the exhibit will be open to the

 public from April 7 through April 29, 2001; and be it further

   Resolved, That not only Italian Americans but all residents from the

 State of Nevada are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to

 view this exhibit which is sure to jog the memories and open the eyes of

 many, and promote greater awareness of the injustices endured by the

 many Italian Americans and their families living in this state; and be it

 further

   Resolved, That the members of the Nevada Legislature wish to thank

 the members of the Augustus Society, a nonprofit organization of Las

 Vegas professional and lay men and women of Italian-American heritage,

 for sponsoring this exhibit; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

 a copy of this resolution to Jim Donofrio from the Augustus Society who

 was responsible for and instrumental in bringing the exhibit to Las Vegas.

 

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