WISH CNY came together in July 2020 with the initial goal of rethinking, removing, and replacing the statue in downtown Syracuse, and sharing why this is important to each of us.
We understand that this change involves the courage of truth-telling and developing respect-in-action for the Native People (the Onondaga) whose land we live on. Each of our members has benefited and given to the Syracuse community, and most of us have immigrant Italian heritage.
We are passionate about public educational outreach, which is vital to begin collaboration for our shared future.
Latest News and Notes from WISH
Please join us in celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 2025
How You Can Help!
Reach out to our Syracuse Common Council Members and asking them to support the removal and replacement of the Columbus Monument. Find your Council District and Counselor
Write a Letter to the Editor (250 words) or Guest Opinion (800 words) to the Post Standard | Syracuse.com. Email your letter to letters@syracuse.com. See Syracuse Post Standard Guidelines; questions can be sent to Marie Morelli at mmorelli@syracuse.com.
WISH CNY Promotes Outreach and Education
Onondaga Nation Amicus Brief on Columbus Statue
As of September 9th, 2021, the Onondaga Nation Amicus Brief is now available to the public. The Amicus Affirmation provides an in-depth historical account of the Onondaga Nation’s living history with the Columbus Statue.
Celebrate Diversity,
Replace Columbus
As part of a broad public relations campaign, Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, in collaboration with Women of Italian and Syracuse Heritage, is distributing lawn signs with the message "Celebrate Diversity - Replace Columbus" in the greater Syracuse area.
Lawn signs are available at Syracuse Cultural Workers or by contacting Sue Eiholzer at rsue@twcny.rr.com
Celebrating
Notable Italian and Italian-American Women
The United States has typically prioritized honoring men in history. Here is a non-comprehensive list of resources of women with Italian heritage., worthy of being remembered, both contemporary to Columbus and more recent.
Our First Effort: Rethinking, Removing and Replacing Columbus
Letter to the Mayor’s Committee
August 15, 2020
We, ten women of Italian-American ancestry, have seriously considered the monuments to Columbus and their symbolic statement of Italian immigrant pride. Italians have a deep and rich history of which we can be proud. However, we know that this monument of Christopher Columbus, erected in Syracuse in 1934, is no longer a suitable symbol of pride, and not one that we would offer to represent our Italian ancestry. Given the truth of his missions, including slavery, betrayal, and violence toward Indigenous Peoples in the name of Spain and Christendom; we respectfully request the removal of the statue and a rethinking of this “idol.”
Our Italian ancestry is something each of us views differently, but each with respect for the legacy of our ancestors. It is a human attribute to express pride in one’s heritage, but we are obligated to honor historical truths, not myths. We are looking with honesty at our past while presenting a message of hopeful change for the way we show respect to our Syracuse Italian ancestry.
The complete document is available on our In The News page.
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