[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11892-S11893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDER OF AHEPA

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, this past August, I was 
privileged to address the Order of AHEPA during the celebration of its 
75th anniversary in Atlanta, GA, the city of its founding. AHEPA, 
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, the largest 
Greek-American fraternal organization, has played a pivotal role in 
bringing Greek-Americans into the mainstream of American life, and 
promoting the ideals of Hellenic culture. It has also launched 
significant philanthropic and educational initiatives which have 
benefited both the Greek-American community and American society at 
large.
  As part of this 75th anniversary commemoration, James Scofield, a 
past supreme president of AHEPA, prepared for article on the early 
origins of AHEPA entitled, ``Forgotten History: The Klan vs. Americans 
of Hellenic Heritage in an Era of hate.'' This piece, written by Mr. 
Scofield, recently retired after 30 years as a senior executive at the 
St. Petersburg, FL, Times, has appeared in the AHEPA magazine and many 
Greek-American publications.
  It records the struggle which Greek-Americans encountered in their 
effort to participate fully in American society. AHEPA's history, as 
presented by Mr. Scofield, also reminds us of the extraordinary 
progress which our country has achieved in providing opportunity for 
people of all races, religions, and backgrounds.
  We are most appreciative to Mr. Scofield for his unique contribution 
and admonition to continue our efforts to ensure justice and respect 
for all. I ask that his article be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

 Forgotten History: The Klan vs. Americans of Hellenic Heritage in an 
                              Era of Hate

                         (By James S. Scofield)


        ahepa emerges 75 years ago to win battle against bigotry

       It was 1922, Americans of Hellenic heritage were suffering 
     personal and economic intimidation orchestrated by the 
     revived Ku Klux Klan. It was time for them to unify and 
     organize, to protect and defend life and livelihood.
       The widespread and often violent discrimination against 
     immigrants from Greece is an almost forgotten page of 
     American history. This is probably because of their 
     subsequent success and the great accomplishments of their 
     descendants. Very few persons today, Hellenic or not, are 
     even vaguely aware of the massive continental strength of the 
     Klan of the 1920s and its intensive persecution of foreign-
     born Greeks, including those who had chosen to become 
     American citizens.
       They do not know how deeply the evil shadows of bigotry, 
     hatred and intolerance cast their malignant darkness over 
     North America. Perhaps it is time to remind them.

[[Page S11893]]

       The newly-reorganized KKK rampaged against frightened 
     immigrants and helpless minorities throughout the U.S. It 
     dominated politics in states in both the North and South. In 
     Canada, its dangerous wicked ways were transplanted and 
     flourished, especially in the western provinces.
       An estimated three million militant hooded Klansmen stalked 
     across our continent, burning crosses and spawning terror.
       During its reign of power, the Klan elected sixteen U.S. 
     Senators, eleven Governors and an undetermined large number 
     of Congressmen, both Republican and Democrat. It reportedly 
     exerted considerable influence in the White House.
       Klan organizations ruled local politics in the major cities 
     of Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis and Portland, Oregon, as well 
     as in such smaller communities as Anaheim, California; El 
     Paso, Texas; Youngstown, Ohio and Portland, Maine.
       In 1992, California and Oregon voters elected Klan-endorsed 
     gubernatorial candidates. Then in 1924, a Klan candidate won 
     the governorship in Kansas. The same year, the Klan endorsed 
     U.S. Senate winners in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, 
     Oklahoma and Texas. It also won the gubernatorial contests in 
     five of these six states, barely losing in Texas.
       At U.S. election polls, Klansmen passed out cards which 
     crudely and defiantly declared:

     When cotton grows on the fig tree
     And alfalfa hangs on the rose
     When the aliens run the United States
     And the Jews grow a straight nose
     When the Pope is praised by every one
     In the land of Uncle Sam
     And a Greek is elected President
     THEN--the Ku Klux won't be worth a damn.

       Meanshile, embattled but visionary Greek immigrant leaders 
     met on July 26, 1922, in Atlanta to form the American 
     Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, now better 
     known as the Order of Ahepa. Not by coincidence, Atlanta was 
     the home of the national Imperial Headquarters of the Klan.
       The most important goal of the Ahepa founders was to 
     quickly and solidly establish better relations with non-
     Greeks. They agreed to do this by taking the positive high 
     road of reason emphasizing assimilation, cooperation, 
     persuasion and unlike their marked foes, non-violence.
       Their main discussion was how to best contain the wave of 
     hostility which had almost drowned them. The ominous specters 
     of twisted Americanism and KKK aggression spurred them to 
     create a patriotic fraternal order espousing undivided 
     loyalty to the United States. American citizenship, 
     proficiency in English, active participation in the civic 
     mainstream, economic stability, social unity and the pursuit 
     of education. The latter was considered vital for its obvious 
     gifts of knowledge and as the essential key to upward 
     mobility.
       The Ahepa founders were profoundly disturbed and alarmed by 
     their bitter experiences with Klan prejudice and by reports 
     of worse bigotry elsewhere. Even before the Klan reappeared, 
     there had been senseless attacks on foreign-born Greeks, some 
     fatal. However, the new Klan expertly and abrasively honed 
     intolerance with brutal efficiency to silence and subdue all 
     of its alleged inferiors.
       Many Greek-owned confectioneries and restaurants failed 
     financially or were sold at sacrificial prices to non-Greeks 
     because of boycotts instigated by the Klan. Greek 
     establishments doing as much as $500 to $1,000 a day 
     business, especially in the South and Midwest, dropped to as 
     little as $25 a day. The only recourse was to sell or close. 
     The Klan often bolstered its boycotts by openly threatening 
     or attacking customers entering and leaving.
       A Klan Imperial Lecturer told Klansmen in Spokane that 
     Mexicans and Greeks should be sent back to where they came 
     from so that white supremacy and the purity of Americans be 
     preserved. Meanwhile, in Palatka, Florida, a Greek immigrant 
     was flogged for dating a ``white'' woman.
       The Royal Riders of the Red Robe was a Klan affiliate 
     assembled ``as a real patriotic organization'' for approved 
     naturalized citizens unluckily born outside the United 
     States. However, in the ultimate snub of exclusion, 
     immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Balkans were not 
     eligible to join.
       In Indiana, the state most politically controlled by the 
     1920s Klan, burning crosses were ignited in the yards of 
     outspoken Hellenes. Unprovoked beatings of Greeks were not 
     reported to police lest another beating soon follow. Others 
     were warned of dire consequences if they spoke Greek in 
     public, even in their own business establishments.
       Hoosier Democrat and Republican leaders actively 
     discouraged naturalized Hellenes from filing for public 
     office, forcing them to run as Socialist Party candidates. 
     Fearful Greek Orthodox Christians indefinitely postponed 
     impending plans to organize parishes. To avoid constant 
     confrontation, long and difficult to pronounce first and last 
     names of Greek origin were shortened or changed to more 
     acceptable Americanized versions. False rumors spread by the 
     Klan about supposed unsolved murders of Greeks in other 
     states produced the desired dread.
       The Klan Grand Dragon of Oregon said in a spirited speech 
     in Atlanta: ``The Klan in the western states has a great 
     mission to perform. The rapid growth of the Japanese 
     population and the great influx of foreign laborers, mostly 
     Greeks, is threatening our American institutions; and, Klans 
     in Washington, Oregon and Idaho are actively at work to 
     combat these foreign and un-American influences.''
       Probably the most blatant hard-line bullying, almost 
     humorous, occurred in Pensacola, Florida. A Klansman handed a 
     note to a Greek restaurateur which read: ``You are an 
     undesirable citizen. You violate the Federal Prohibition Laws 
     and laws of decency and are a running sore on society. 
     Several trains are leaving Pensacola daily. Take your choice 
     but do not take too much time. Sincerely in earnest, KKK.''
       Today, according to sociologist Charles C. Moskos, Jr., of 
     Northwestern University, American Hellenes proudly rank first 
     among all ethnic groups in individual educational attainment 
     and second in individual educational attainment and second in 
     individual wealth. They have succeeded in every facet of 
     American life. The Order of Ahepa has played the prime 
     historic role in this ascent.
       True to its original mission, Ahepa financially supports 
     scholarships, educational chairs, housing for the elderly, 
     medical research, community programs, charitable projects and 
     other worthy endeavors through contributions of more than two 
     million dollars a year from its chapter, district and 
     national levels.
       Ahepa validated its patriotic roots during World War II by 
     selling over five hundred million dollars of U.S. War Bonds, 
     more than any organization in America. Meanwhile, Ahepa 
     officials first visited the White House to meet with 
     President Calvin Coolidge in 1924 and have conferred with all 
     twelve Presidents since Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry 
     Truman and Gerald Ford became Ahepa members.
       More recently, Ahepa raised $400,000 for the restoration of 
     Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and $775,000 for a 
     sculpture commemorating the Centennial Olympic Games in 
     Atlanta. Ahepa has received congressional and presidential 
     recognition for promoting friendship and goodwill among the 
     people of the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus. 
     President George Bush hailed Ahepa as one of ``the thousand 
     points of light.''
       Ahepa moved its headquarters to Washington DC in 1924 and 
     later expanded its scope by adding three auxiliaries to 
     complete the Ahepa Family: the Daughters of Penelope for 
     women, the Sons of Pericles for young men and the Maids of 
     Athena for young women. Its combined eight hundred chapters, 
     consisting of about 35,000 members, cover the United States 
     and Canada and have planted successful units in Australia and 
     Greece. It held its 75th annual convention in Atlanta in 
     August.
       In 1990, Ahepa filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) 
     brief in the Georgia Supreme Court. It backed the legal 
     position of the National Association for the Advancement of 
     Colored People (NAACP) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) 
     of B'nai B'rith in support of a state law banning masks in 
     public which was challenged by the KKK. The court ruled 6 to 
     1 to uphold the constitutionality of the anti-mask statute.
       The significance of the favorable decision to a jubilant 
     Ahepa was that it came in the city of its founding and helped 
     seal the doom of another failed Klan revival. Moreover, it 
     enabled Hellenes to join in victorious celebration with 
     fellow black and Jewish Americans whose forbearers also were 
     sadistically harmed physically, mentally and economically by 
     the KKK of yesteryear.
       Along with Roman Catholics, Asians and other immigrants 
     considered unacceptable by the Klan, they were targeted 
     separately and together then because they did not fit the 
     rigidly narrow KKK concept of what constitutes a good and 
     loyal American.
       For Hellenes, it is supremely ironic that the six 
     organizers of the original Klan in 1865 created the words Ku 
     Klux from kuklos, a variation of the Greek kyklos meaning 
     cycle or circle, and applied it to their own little circle.
       Today the 1920s version of the KKK is long gone--and its 
     flickering reincarnations are virtual nonentities. The Klan 
     deserved to die--and died.
       The Order of Ahepa thrives three quarters of a century 
     after its historic birth amid the fiery heat of hate--
     generated by the toxic Klan cauldron of insane fanaticism. 
     Ahepa deserves to live--and lives.

                          ____________________