Upon the United States entry into World Wa r II\, six hundred thousand Italian Americans who had not yet obtained Uni ted States citizenship were branded &ldquo\;enemy aliens.&rdquo\; They wer e required to register with the government\, carry identification cards\, surrender property\, and were subject to travel restrictions and relocatio n. Some of the community&rsquo\;s most revered luminaries were arrested an d interned. Although Italian Americans were the largest ethnic group servi ng in the United States military\, their families were considered &ldquo\; potentially dangerous\,&rdquo\; an experience that led many to distance th emselves from their heritage. This program will explore the World War II r estrictions on Italian Americans within the larger context of anti-Italian ism in the United States from the late nineteenth century leading up to Wo rld War II&mdash\;including laws to restrict Italian immigration to racial ly-motivated acts of violence&mdash\; and their lasting effects on Italian American identity.
\nMarianna Gatto is the executive director and c ofounder of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles and has held this p osition since 2010. Gatto&rsquo\;s roles span from fundraising and develop ment to museum management and advocacy. A historian and educator\, Gatto w rote and curates the museum&rsquo\;s award-winning permanent exhibition as well as its temporary exhibitions. Gatto is a published author who has ap peared in various documentaries\, consulted for major networks\, and is a frequent guest speaker. A Los Angeles native\, Gatto earned a B.A. in soci al science and an M.A. in history and education. In 2020 Gatto was knighte d by the Italian republic\, receiving the Cavaliere dell&rsquo\;Ordine del la Stella d&rsquo\;Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy).
\ nJoin us for our PV R EADS author talk by Mark Sullivan\, author of Beneath the Scarlet Sky on Friday\, March 13\, 2026 at 6:30 pm. Check our calendar for mo re details.
\nRegistration not required.
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