It’s a stereotype racist slur cartoon. Shatner, being a Jew, is better than this.

The National Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), is the anti-defamation branch of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), and as such represents over 600,000 family members. We are the leading anti-defamation group fighting bias, bigotry and defamation of Italian Americans and other groups. We are outraged that William Shatner, at 77 years of age, would want to “cap” his respected acting career with a trashy, sterotypical anti-Italian cartoon entitled “The Gavones” which joins the ranks of some of the lowest forms of “entertainment.”
This cartoon is filled with recycled stereotypes of Italian Americans and depicts nothing to advance the achievements of Italian Americans in the arts, science, education, medicine, law and so many other fields. Would Mr. Shatner dare to depict Jews, Asians, Muslim Americans, Hispanics, African Americans or others in this way? Italians are sick and tired of actors making a living on the backs of Italian Americans who built this country and contribute so much to our society today. Is this the legacy Mr. Shatner wants to leave? Mr. Shatner stated that,”I decided a cartoon on YouTube would be really fun.” Fun for whom, Mr. Shatner? Certainly not Italian Americans. We’re not laughing! You have disappointed your many fans in OSIA who deserve better than this racist cartoon.
Santina Haemmerle
National CSJ President
Order Sons of Italy in America
219 E. Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547-2900
(202) 546-8168 (FAX)