Syracuse Turkish community celebrates their heritage with a Children’s Festival
The Syracuse Turkish community and representatives of the Turkish Cultural Center celebrated their National Sovereignty and Children's Day at Syracuse City Hall on Thursday April 23, 2015 with a Children's Festival. Members of the local Turkish community and their friends pose for a group photo.
Date posted: April 25, 2015
STEPHEN D. CANNERELLI
The Syracuse Turkish community and representatives of the Turkish Cultural Center celebrated their National Sovereignty and Children’s Day at Syracuse City Hall on Thursday April 23, 2015 with a Children’s Festival.
April 23rd marks the inaugural session of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and is celebrated by the Turkish community as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner proclaimed April 23, 2015 as “Turkish Heritage Day” with a proclamation presented to TCCS Director Tim Saka by Syracuse Common Council President Van Robinson. Havva Karakas of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School was the master of ceremonies. One of the speakers was Fatma Zehra Sula, a Weekend School student from TCCS.
There was Turkish music, dance and food. Students from The Turkish Cultural Center of Syracuse, under the direction of Ayla Turgay, performed a Turkish Wedding dance. The celebration concluded with the raising of the Turkish National flag on the steps of City Hall.
The tensions erupted into the open last month with a corruption probe that led to the resignation of four government ministers and threatened to ensnare Mr. Erdogan’s family. The government has since purged hundreds of police officials and prosecutors and sought to assert control over the judiciary. It also drafted legislation expanding the government’s power to appoint judges and prosecutors, further breaching judicial independence, and has prevented journalists from reporting freely.
“A Model for Peacemaking: In the Footprints of Francis & the Sultan”
Dialogue Institute of the Southwest co-sponsored a video production called “In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan: A Model for Peacemaking”, which aims to advance interfaith dialogue and understanding between Christians and Muslims. This video uses the story of their meeting to help us negotiate our difficult interfaith encounters and other misunderstanding and hostility between peoples.
The Peace Islands Institute’s 5th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Award
The outstanding contribution of law enforcement officers was recognized at an award ceremony in Morristown, New Jersey. The Peace Islands Institute’s 5th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Award united community members with law enforcement personnel.
Fethullah Gülen’s Statement on the Shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada
Fethullah Gülen: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic mass shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night, that resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and the wounding of more than 500.”
Jews, Muslims Bond Over Shared Values
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbis for Human Rights: “We have to understand that we have common issues in our communities that we can work together to improve our schools, we can work together for immigration reform and that these are issues of shared concern that are things we feel passionately about.” Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster believes that […]
Enes Kanter: “I’m getting death threats almost every day”
Appearing on “CBS This Morning” Monday, Kanter said the trouble began while he was in Indonesia: “I was sleeping around 2:30 or something and my manager knocked on my door. He said the Secret Service and the Indonesian army were looking for me because the Turkish government told them I was a dangerous man.
Latest News
Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away
Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice
Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say
Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?
Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case
A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook
Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?
Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis
In Case You Missed It
After coup, Turkish activist afraid to return home
The Fall of Turkey
Prof. Leo Lefebure on Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement
In redemption days hoping for better
Three Turkish diplomats seeking asylum in Germany after coup
Arrested journalist Hidayet Karaca’s letter published in Le Monde
Are Gülen’s remarks on talks with PKK really surprising?