RCMP apologizes for Project Clemenza
The top Mountie in Quebec issued an apology to the National Congress of Italian-Canadians for how the RCMP named and described an organized-crime bust two weeks ago.
On June 12, the RCMP released details on “Project Clemenza,” apparently named in reference to character Peter Clemenza in The Godfather series of novels and movies. The RCMP said that project Clemenza was successful in dismantling two “Italian-based” organized-crime cells.
Wednesday, following complaints that the naming and description of Project Clemenza perpetuated stereotypes against Italians, the RCMP apologized for the wording in a letter addressed to two executives of the Italian-Canadian group.
“I can assure you that neither in the choice of the name of the investigation nor in the preparation of our press lines did we intend to convey any negative message whatsoever regarding the community you represent,” said François Deschênes, commanding officer for the RCMP’s “C” Division, which covers Quebec.
“All measures have been taken to adjust our choice of words in order to reflect our deepest respect for the Italian community.”
Deschênes did not return a request for comment.
The wording had struck a nerve within the community, according to a joint letter written by Pino Asaro and Antonio Sciascia, two executives
“All measures have been taken to adjust our choice of words.”
François Deschênes
from the Italian-Canadian congress.
The two noted that the RCMP seem to have substituted the word “Italian” for “mafia” when talking about the bust.
“The association of ‘Italian’ to ‘Mafia’ is in our opinion offensive, and degrading, to all Italian Canadians, who certainly do not deserve to be treated with bigotry, bias and defamation,” they wrote.
“Why amalgamate ‘Italian’ with ‘Mafia?’ Most of these individuals are born here in Canada and half of them are of a different cultural origin,” they claimed.
In an interview with The Gazette, Sciascia said while the apology is nice, they plan to go a step further.
“We’re sending another letter to the RCMP, (asking them to) remove from the website the Clemenza story, and we’re asking them to publish their letter on their website,” he said. “We’ve been at this for many years now.”
The Clemenza raid arrested individuals in Quebec City, Montreal and Laval. The RCMP wrote in a news release that one of the crime groups was working with Antonio Bastone and Roberto Bastone. The other is said to have links to Giuseppe De Vito, a Quebec mobster who died in prison in 2013.
The RCMP said at a news conference following the arrests that the two groups were fighting with each other.
In total, 32 people were arrested and a 87 charges were laid in relation to incidents between 2010 and 2012. Charges include gangsterism, attempted murder, murder, and drug trafficking.