Statement of the President of the American Hellenic Council on the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021 in the US Capitol:

At a time of great stress we must condemn the insurrection by the rioters in the U.S. Capitol yesterday. Our great nation was built on the foundation of democracy and respect for the rule of law. America’s Founding Fathers wisely based the U.S. Constitution on the concept of democracy that was first recognized by the ancient Greeks. As such we must stand up and condemn the violent actions that resulted in the storming of the U.S. Capitol when Congress was deliberating. We must condemn those who do not respect the rule of law and our democratic principles.

We cannot stand silent when the rule of law has been violated at the very core of our democracy. We are, and remain, “One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all!”

We must call for democratic rule, for calm and for justice. We must heal our wounds and speak out against those that turn to violence and insurrection.

In the words of Plato:
“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”

Respectfully,
Dr. James F. Dimitriou
President & Chairman
American Hellenic Council