Vol. 14 Issue 40 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020
AHEPA E-News
AHEPA Releases 2020 Congressional Info-Card
AHEPA released its 2020 Congressional Info-Card for the 116th Congress on the public policy priorities of the American Hellenic community, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
“This November 3, all seats for the House of Representatives are up for election and approximately one-third of Senate seats are too,” Horiates said. “We are presented with an opportunity to provide a service to the American Hellenic community and educate it about the legislative actions or initiatives taken by members of Congress on American Hellenic issues. If anything, the Info-Card may be the best indicator of how well legislators are aware of, or engaged in, our issues.”
read news release
Info-Card | U.S. House of Representatives
Info-Card | U.S. Senate
AHEPA Stands with Armenian American Community as Turkey Instigates Further Aggression
Supreme President George G. Horiates has issued the following statement:
AHEPA stands with the Armenian American community as conflict has arisen between Azerbaijan and Armenia because of Azerbaijan's targeting of the Armenian civilian population of Artsakh. Azerbaijan's violent aggression is instigated by Turkey. Turkey is using Azerbaijan as a proxy to extinguish Armenians in Artsakh. Further, Turkey is utilizing Syrians as mercenaries and deploying them to the region. AHEPA unequivocally condemns Turkey for its actions.
Historically, AHEPA has worked in cooperation with Armenian American organizations, such as the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America, on issues of mutual importance, including recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which each chamber of the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed in 2019.
read entire statement
AHEPA Strongly Denounces Anti-Semitic Graffiti at Jewish Cemetery in Athens Suburb
AHEPA denounces in the strongest terms the act of anti-Semitic graffiti directed toward the Jewish community of Greece, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
"The vandalism of painting anti-Semitic slogans and neo-Nazi symbols on the walls and fence of a Jewish cemetery in Nikea, a suburb of Athens, is unacceptable," Horiates said. "We stand with the Jewish community, call for healing, and further call for the perpetrators to be brought swiftly to justice. The prompt response by Greek government officials is appreciated."
He added, "We must not tolerate hate, bigotry, and evil. Instead, we must strive for tolerance and common understanding, as AHEPA’s founders and earliest leaders understood."
Greece Is the Word in 2021
Athens Supreme Convention Info Released
AHEPA is preparing for the 99th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention to be held in Athens, Greece, July 25 to 31, 2021. The official convention hotel will be the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Greece will be celebrating the bicentennial of its independence in 2021 and the AHEPA family will be there to join in the celebration! See you there!
learn more
AHEPA Mobilizes against Turkey's Provocations
In a September memo to organizational leaders, Supreme President George G. Horiates provided instruction for Ahepans to mobilize against Turkey's provocations.
Turkey has escalated tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean to dangerous levels not seen since 1996 through violations of international norms and international and U.S. law, Horiates writes in the memo.
"Turkey’s actions are not only illegal, but they are not in the best interests of the United States and place lives unnecessarily in harm’s way," Horiates states.
The memo recaps actions taken by AHEPA to address Turkey's provocations and how Ahepans, and by extension, the community, can help going forward.
"We stand ready to assist you with this most important mobilization to address this pressing matter that threatens NATO ally, Greece; strategic partner, Cyprus; and U.S. interests in the region, overall," Horiates concludes.
Mobilization Tool Kit
Memo to AHEPA Leaders
Template Letter to Public Officials
Talking Points
Boycott Turkey Info Sheet
AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund Opened for
Natural Disasters
AHEPA has opened its Emergency Relief Fund to provide assistance to the victims of the wildfires that are devastating California and Hurricane Laura, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
“The California wildfires and Hurricane Laura have caused widespread devastation affecting thousands of people,” Supreme President Horiates said. “Our thoughts are prayers are with communities impacted by these natural disasters, and we must do our part to help and make an difference for those in need. We urge our AHEPA chapters, members, and supporters to provide assistance through our Emergency Relief Fund as we have done traditionally when natural disasters strike or most recently in response to COVID-19.”
Supreme President Horiates has made the following appeal:
Each chapter to donate a minimum $250 to the Emergency Relief Fund (a 501(c)3 donation), and
For chapters and/or individuals to secure one (1) $500 donor from the community-at-large
AHEPA established the Emergency Fund 15 years ago. Since its inception more than $1 million has been donated from the fund to those affected by national disasters.
read more | ICYMI AHEPA Housing donates $25K
Donate to the AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund
The Senate Must Act!
View our Action Alert
Contact Senators and urge them to:
Uphold American values and security interests.
Hold Turkey responsible for its actions.
Urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring sanctions legislation to the Senate Floor.
The House acted. Now the Senate must.
Contact the US Senate Today!
Take Action: Learn More!
Calendar of Events & Deadlines
October
27 | Deadline: The Ahepan Winter 2020
Greek American News Digest
Editor's Note
Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.
Greek premier meets with NATO chief over tension with Turkey
The Washington Post (Oct. 6)
Greece’s prime minister reiterated on Tuesday that his country is prepared to hold talks with fellow NATO member Turkey about a dispute over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean. read more
Greece puts faith in judges to heal wounds inflicted by Golden Dawn
The Guardian (Oct. 3)
There are few moments in a nation’s history when one decision can heal the wrongs of the past. But in Greece there is mounting hope that a panel of three judges will do just that when at 11am on Wednesday they deliver judgment on Golden Dawn, the neo-fascist party that took Europe by storm at the height of the country’s economic crisis. read more
Microsoft plans $1 billion data center venture in Greece
Associated Press (Oct. 5)
Microsoft has announced plans to build three data center sites in greater Athens, providing a badly needed investment of up to $1 billion to the Greek economy which has been hammered by the pandemic. read more
Neo-Nazi Slogans Spray-Painted on Walls of Athens Jewish Cemetery
The Algemeiner (Oct. 6)
Neo-Nazi slogans were spray-painted on the walls of a Jewish cemetery in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, prompting a swift response from authorities and a solidarity visit by Greek parliamentarians. read more
