In April 1970, Joe Colombo created the Italian-American Civil Rights League in order to shed light on the "systemic racism" against Italians in New York. He was lauded by the Italians and considered a hero.
Joe Colombo was also one of the most ruthless mob bosses in New York and used his political power to vilify the police and federal government who were "racist against Italians". His civil rights group was created as propaganda to bring false optics on the authorities who were gaining ground on infiltrating organized crime in New York. He thought if he could vilify the police, investigators and federal government the public would side with his movement and create an upheaval whenever any Italian-American was arrested - irrespective of their criminal background.
Sound familiar?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Colombo