NATIONAL ITALIAN-AMERICAN GROUP FIGHTS MAJOR AD FIRM OVER ‘MAFIA PUPPETS’ CAMPAIGN.
The Italian American One Voice Coalition – a national organization dedicated to battling negative Italian American stereotypes in the media and elsewhere – is calling upon a Pennsylvania-based advertising firm to cease its ‘Mafia Puppets’ ad campaign.
Thanks to local protests and emails the coalition this week was successful in forcing a Florida based car dealership to drop its anti Italian-American marketing campaign. There are however 16 other dealerships across the country currently running the ads.
The campaign includes billboards and TV spots in which puppets with traditional Italian names are used to promote the dealerships. See image and Florida news story below:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/news/hernando-news/2012/jun/23/hanewso1-dealers-ads-draw-groups-ire-ar-419473/
“This is just another case in which negative images are being used to promote and sell items without any regard for the 19-million Italian Americans and their contributions to society”, said One Voice president Andre DiMino.
DiMino has been seen and heard nationally including appearances on Fox, CNN, Headline News, CBS, The Today Show and elsewhere. See more about DiMino and his recent appearances at www.iaovc.org.
Podcast of the interview Download: