Meeting Tony Roman, you’re immediately struck by his stature. He’s a cross between a linebacker and The Hulk. But it’s Tony Roman’s stance on America and freedom that shows what a giant he truly is. On March 19, 2020 when lockdowns and the mask-erade were first announced he declared Basilico’s, his restaurant in Huntington Beach, California, a “Constitutional Battleground.”
Basilico’s Pasta e Vino is a small, rustic Italian restaurant established by Tony’s mother Rosemarie, who started serving up her original East Coast classics after moving to the Left Coast in 1991, following Tony who moved there in 1987.
Rosemarie, who most call Rose, opened Basilico’s in 1999 at its original location. When she fell seriously ill, Tony who comes from other industries, knew that she would no longer be able to be at her restaurant like she once was, and it may even have been on the verge of closing. Because the shopping center and the surrounding neighborhood were in decline, he decided to design and build her a bigger and better restaurant at a new location, as a tribute to her hard work and dedication. He wanted to gift her a restaurant that could operate even if she was not there as often and could continue long into the future to carry on her legacy.
Tony believed that once he installed management and the needed operating systems, he could just walk away after it opened in November of 2017. But destiny stepped in. Tony grew to love the community, his customers and his staff, and it became a big part of his life. Then came March 19, 2020.
Perhaps it’s in his DNA since Rose has always stood on her principles, or his sportsman’s mindset of overcoming obstacles to victory, but Tony Roman immediately decided to stand up as an American and a business owner on the front line of the battle against tyranny and the criminally insane.
Tony says, “When I first heard of any lockdowns they were happening in China, but I thought to myself, that is what they do. They put their boot on the neck of their citizens regularly. Then I heard about the first shutdown in San Francisco, I think being the first in the U.S. to do such a thing. But I thought, well there isn’t a communist policy people there don’t love.
“Then I heard about the impending state wide lockdown in California, being the first state to do so in the U.S. The first thing that came to mind was since when does the greatest, most powerful country on earth shut down for any reason, and I thought about our nation’s founders who sacrificed everything to gift us the protections of our God-given freedoms. I also thought about the brave men and women who have given their lives over 244 years defending those gifts. I then made it clear to my staff that we would never comply on any level for one minute.”
On that March day, the Gadsden Flag was hoisted below the American flag in front of Basilico’s. “Don’t Tread on Me, Live Free or Die” signaled that Basilico’s would be that Constitutional Battleground.
Tony made it clear that Basilico’s stand was for something much bigger than themselves. “It would never be about our right to work, run a business, earn an income, etc., but instead, about defending American liberty and freedom.” While they were at it they were also honoring our nation’s Founders, fallen soldiers and all military veterans. “I made the enemies of freedom understand that in doing so, we were laying everything we have on the line, willing to risk all we have in our fight. We would not fear any potential consequences. Our attitude in our fight, would be not to resist the lockdowns, but instead to attack the lockdowns and those imposing them.”
Tony chose to be provocative. “I feel that we should never be shy about defending American liberty and freedom,” he said. The restaurant operated fully and boldly. “We had zero restrictions. No social distancing.”
Their seating inside and outdoors stayed open. Right down to the delivery men, no one is allowed to wear a mask. “We have banned masks, meaning you cannot step onto the property, inside or out wearing one.” Tony insists that when the mask is removed, it must be put out of sight, thrown away or put in the wearer’s pocket or purse. “We ban masks for what they represent: fear, control and surrender.” If people would have taken them off day one, Tony believes, the lockdowns would have disappeared with them.
When California’s communist governor Gavin Newsome, dubbed by Tony “The Tiny Tyrant — Gavin Pelosi,” imposed a curfew, Basilico’s responded by extending their hours. “The anti-American mask-shamers flooded us with hate calls and even death threats.” They also threatened Roman personally, promising to put bullets in the back of his head, burn the restaurant to the ground, spread viruses inside, you name it. Even celebrities launched boycotts.
Tony thought to himself, “How do I make it clear to these people we aren’t backing down but will instead dig in further and hit back harder? How do I taunt them, stick our defiance in their face? How do I bully the bullies? First, because the phone calls were coming in by the hundreds every day, we recorded a phone greeting message, that, with a wink and a smile, slapped them upside the head Italian-style.”
Next, he put up a 48-foot billboard in Beverly Hills next to the Beverly Center, since most of the hate was coming from Los Angeles. The billboard’s message was a play on one of the most famous lines in movie history from “The Godfather.” The line in the movie is “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” The billboard read ‘Leave the Mask, Take the Cannoli’. Roman explains, “It was up for a month. Getting anyone to run it was almost impossible, with all the ad agencies saying it was too controversial. And after it ran, no ad agency would run it again.”
This American behavior should have started a chain reaction if this was still America. “This is an all or nothing fight, no compromise. So I tell businesses when they say they are open, no you are not. You are not truly open unless you are open without any signs of the lockdown inside. Zero restrictions and no masks. None.
“I receive calls from people all over the country and overseas too, asking me to inspire them on how to fight. I then challenge them to do what I have done, and have outlined how to meet our criteria on our website, TheConstitutionalBattleground.com. I tell business owners when you comply, you are an accomplice to the destruction of this country we have witnessed over the last year-plus. I have tried encouraging them by telling them if they meet our standards, they will be named a ‘Make Restaurants Great Again’ business, and we will promote them. But to this day no one has been willing to really do what I feel is necessary, doing it up to our standards. So we have no one yet on that list.”
Those business owners who ask for advice seem to always want Tony to refer them to a good lawyer. “I tell those who ask about referrals for lawyers, that I don’t have any. I am representing myself, because lawyers seem to be more interested in trying to talk you into complying. You don’t need lawyers or politicians running interference. All you need to do is fight!”
And then Roman rains down some real talk: “I explain to them, when you feel fear of losing a license, paying a fine, receiving a citation or even being arrested, then think about the men and women around the world who right now are facing real bombs and bullets to defend your freedoms, and then maybe you will feel some courage to defy in their honor, instead of dishonoring them over a mask mandate and a pandemic of fear.
“I also warn them, when you reluctantly comply, you are, whether you know it now or not, causing damage to your self-respect, and demoralizing your spirit. You are also damaging the soul of your business. You may think your business will feel the same after you re-open, but instead it will forever bear the scars of surrender.” Did George S. Patton reincarnate as a restaurateur?
When people ask Tony why others aren’t standing up in the same way, he answers, “Maybe they don’t love their country enough. Because if they did, they would sacrifice everything when fighting for it. Too many talk a big game, but when they are facing consequences, most fold.”
He shared the example of a giant 14’ x 28’ mural painted on a building in Venice Beach. It was designed to mock and taunt “the mini dictators” with the same defiance. He chose L.A. again because he believes we must always be willing to invade enemy territory. “So, like our first billboard, we put our message in one of the most pro-lockdown, left wing cities.”
This time the message took a stab at the jab mandates. It read, “Leave the Vax, Take the Cannoli.” Sadly, the Navy veteran that owned the building folded after just 12 days of pressure by the communists, who insisted the message was offensive. “So in the middle of the night, he painted over it. He, in my opinion, is a traitor.”
Not surprisingly, every city, state and federal alphabet agency has applied their own pressure, in an attempt to take down Basilico’s. And not surprisingly, Basilico’s has not budged an inch. “Law enforcement has tried to intimidate us into shutting down, the ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) threatened to shut us down and revoke our very valuable and hard earned liquor license,” said Tony.
“We also had a criminal case against us. OSHA with police back-up and a search warrant tried to gain entry and we stonewalled them too. We did not honor the search warrant and denied them entry. Afterwards they tried penalizing us with $152,000.00 in fines. Our landlord has even tried evicting us. We ignore them all, because we will not grant them authority over us where we believe they have none in this matter. We will give them no recognition. In fact, I did not even appear for any of my court dates. Instead I sent them videos telling them I would not honor their summons to appear to defend myself, and in the videos I lecture and mock them.”
On his website, Tony exhorts the enforcers of tyranny that the excuse of “just doing your job” is treasonous! “Stand on principle, and stand down. Instead, stand with us. Stand on the side of American liberty and freedom.”
Not only do they get calls and letters of support from around the world, but Basilico’s is the weekend rallying point for patriots. The joint’s a jumpin’. Says Tony, “Our business is no longer a restaurant. It is now so much more. It is now a fortress for freedom that represents millions of Americans and their love for freedom and their country. I tell people you may not have a restaurant or any business to use as a platform in a fight like this, but you can make the ground under your feet your own ‘Constitutional Battleground’ every single day when facing the enemies of freedom.
“This is a battle of wills. So wake up every day with the enthusiasm and energy needed to impose your will on the ‘tiny tyrants’. Bully the bullies. Never give an inch. Never back down. Never compromise. Never negotiate. Never surrender.”
Tony Roman lived a very private life until this fight began. He’s sacrificed that privacy. “I love my country and all that it stands for, so I was always ready for this moment.” Still feel like wearing that mask, kowtowing to the next mandate? As Tony says, “You’re Americans, act like it!” We salute you, Tony Roman.
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Tony’s practicing some good ‘ol Irish democracy. Ignore the rulers out of existence. They’re nothing but petty, insecure psychopaths and sociopaths without a shred of decency, empathy or honesty.
But then that’s exactly the type of people drawn to politics and government where those qualities are conspicuous in their absence.
It’s nice to read an encouraging story for a change…..
An Italian American hero.
We all been saying much the same here on TBP… Take it to heart and put it to action.
If every business owner had done the same thing as Tony had from the beginning, this scamdemic would have ended long ago.
True, but the article notes:
See what they did there? This isn’t America. This is enemy territory. None of this will stop. It will get worse.
Until …
Always remember they knew from the start that hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin worked.
Pretty amazing and hard to believe. No, I’m not calling anyone a liar, I’m saying; how is it that he hasn’t been arrested or offed somehow?
are you kidding!??
Kidding about what? Hasn’t California shut down several other businesses for not adhering to the dictates?
You don’t think I’m against the guy do you? If so, you’ve simply passed by every single one of my comments for the last 2 years. Shame on you.
I was simply asking a question. Why not attempt to answer it?
Are you saying he’s an untouchable mafioso?
It doesn’t say what other industries he was in before helping out mom.
But he clearly had some means.
Means left to one are usually frittered away.
Means earned usually come with wisdom.
Those with means often dabble in politics.
Collecting favors and dirty laundry are natural.
Intimidation is a double edged sword.
Donk… He’s Fredo’s rower
I hear what you’re saying GNL but I don’t think it will end well for the people that mess with a guy named Tony Roman
No. He didn’t show for court dates, refused entry with a warrrant, etc.
At some point this guy’s going to jail. They’ll send enough cops, and he’ll be head-handed into the back of a cop car. It’s wrong, but it’ll happen.
And what will we here do about it?
I’m Italian on my father’s side, Irish on my mother’s. I’m very proud of both. Tony’s reaction reminds me of my favorite film clip of John Gotti. The Teflon Don had just been acquitted at his first trial and he walks out of court a free man. As he’s walking down the street a cameraman with WABC gets right up in his face with the big ass camera. John stops dead in his tracks, stares at the guy. points his finger at him and says: “Behave yourself”. You could see the guy fold up like a cardboard suitcase.
I have a feeling at some point in his career Tony might have been a trucker.
But the narrative is collapsing and the pandemic is winding down. Right?
right?