Assembly member Portantino Welcomes Historical Italian American Exhibit to the State Capitol in Celebration of Italian American Heritage Month

Sacramento, CA - Assembly-member Anthony Portantino (D- La Caņada Flintridge) and the Legislative Italian Caucus are sponsoring an exhibit at the State Capitol in honor of the Italian men and women who helped to shape California’s Gold Country. This is the third consecutive year the informal Italian American Legislative Caucus has sponsored an exhibit highlighting the contributions of Italian Americans in California.

The photo display runs October 1 - October 30 in the second floor Rotunda. “Nostra Storia, the Italian Legacy in the Gold Country” tells the story and contributions made by Italian settlers in Northern California – a story that has gone largely unrecognized until recently.

The exhibit, sponsored by the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento, chronicles the migration of Italian miners, businessmen and women and the communities they created. Time and neglect are taking a toll on these remnants of California’s history and the exhibit documents the people and places for future generations. “I'm proud of the positive role that Italian Americans have played in Californian and American history and I'm honored to be in a position to properly recognize these accomplishments,” stated Assembly member Portantino.

“From manufacturing to manual labor, to banking and restaurants, Italian immigrants were involved in nearly every aspect of California society. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to stop by and learn about the Italian experience in California.”

In recognizing another little-known chapter of Italian American history, Assembly-member Portantino is proud to join with fellow legislators in co-authoring SCR 95 to formally acknowledge that the treatment of Italian Americans during World War II represented a fundamental injustice. Thousands of Italian immigrants were forced to leave their homes on both the East and West Coasts; many were arrested and hundreds were interned in military camps. With SCR95, the Legislature reaffirms its commitment to preserving the rights of all peoples.