A televised graphic depicting Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata in gangland garb has been pulled from the popular YouTube video site, by KOVR 13 or its parent company, after Italian Americans took offense to it.
The graphic characterized Perata as a Mafia don, complete with purple suit, white tie, fancy car and rapid-fire weapon.
The image was aired last week on a KOVR 13 morning news segment, anchored by Chris Burrous, which criticized Perata for suggesting the state raise taxes to help balance its budget.
An apology was demanded Wednesday by Bill Cerruti, chairman of a state Italian American task force and leader of the Italian-American Cultural Society, who claimed the graphic reinforced negative stereotypes of Italian Americans as violent gangland figures.
Within 12 hours after Cerruti publicly pressed for an apology, the graphic no longer was available on YouTube.
KOVR declined comment today, thus leaving unanswered whether the graphic's removal stemmed from Cerruti's complaint or any related embarrassment or fallout.
YouTube's Web site said only that, "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by CBS Broadcasting Inc."
Various other KOVR 13 video news clips, including segments with Burrous, continued to air Thursday on YouTube.
Alicia Trost, Perata's spokeswoman, said the senator did not seek the gangland graphic's removal. "We had nothing to do with that," she said.
Cerruti said removing the image is insufficient. "I'm not sure I'm satisfied with that," he said. "I still think they owe an apology to Italian Americans. And I think they owe one to Don Perata."
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