Press conference

For immediate release

Contact: Raul Montes, Jr.
773-290-4603

Carlo Vaniglia Vice President of Comites

Italian Americans angered at murder of Italian man and offended by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s comments that are vulgar and disparaging toward Italian ethnic group; Will hold vigil and want mayor to focus on crime instead of mistreating Italian -Americans with hate and disparaging comments

What: Press conference/vigil

When: Sunday, March 6, 2022

Where: Piazza DiMaggio
1437 W Taylor street
Chicago, IL 60607

Time: 10:15 a.m.

Chicago, IL. The City of Chicago continues to witness the outlandish destructive behavior of gun violence and crime that is an escalating and continues to take over the streets in the city. Diego Damis was robbed and stabbed to death last Friday morning in the the Kenwood area around 6 AM and the 4900 block of South Greenwood Ave. according to police.

Diego Damas an immigrant who became a beloved bartender at the Cove lounge after years frequenting the bar. He was a musician, cleaner, and an avid chess player and a tiramisu expert.
Also another lawsuit was filed against the City of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot claiming she used obscene language and defamed a former Chicago Park District lawyer who was involved in the Christopher Columbus statue controversy in 2021.

In the midst of it she referred to Italians as having smaller genitalia than her including George Smyrniotis, who served as First Deputy General Counsel for the district, alleged that Lightfoot berated him over a Zoom call, damaging his reputation and leading to the loss of his job as well as causing him emotional distress.The lawsuit claims she went on to say “My d- is bigger than yours and the Italians , I have the biggest d- in Chicago.”

On Sunday morning, Italian-Americans and activists will stage a press conference/vigil with placards at the Piazza DiMaggio on Taylor Street and will bring vigilance against crime in the City of Chicago and the mistreatment of Italian Americans by mayor Lori Lightfoot. We will also hold a vigil for Diego Damis a man that was murdered in the Kenwood area last week. Father Fragomeni of Pompei Carholic church will attend too.