States must create and pass the 1492 Act to protect Italian Americans from hate crimes and make it illegal for Mayors and City council members to refuse to enforce laws and protect the civil rights of residents in their respective state. The 1492 act would encompass educational reform, accountability of public officials in their duty to protect and make defacing or destroying Italian American cultural symbols a hate crime.

We Are Equal. Italian Americans have been a protected class under the 14th Amendment equal protection clause for many decades. Some may argue we have been protected since the Declaration of Independence was signed that declared all men are created equal. However, the destruction of Columbus Monuments across the country indicates we are from our goal of equality.