[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E50]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      JEWISH CEMETERY IN IOANNINA

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                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 20, 2010

  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' 
attention to some extraordinary news from Ioannina, Greece. Last month, 
a group of citizens called the Citizens Initiative for the Defense of 
the Jewish Cemetery of Ioannina held a public rally against anti-
Semitism, bringing Jews and Christians together to combat racism and 
hatred.
  The Jewish cemetery of Ioannina, which was vandalized four times in 
2009, is a cultural monument of one of the oldest Jewish communities in 
the world--dating back almost 3,000 years to the time of the Babylonian 
exile. The Jewish community of Ioannina believes the cemetery vandals 
are members of a neo-Nazi group.
  Therefore, the Citizens Initiative came together--Jews and Christians 
alike--to create ``a human chain against racism'' surrounding the 
cemetery, showing support for the Jewish community and demonstrating 
their outrage at the recent desecrations. Additionally, a public 
exhibition highlighted the historic Jewish community there and the 
cemetery's significance in that history.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the good citizens of Ioannina who organized 
and participated in this remarkable event. I hope their good will and 
unity will compel the political leaders of Ioannina to act against the 
vandals in their city. This kind of citizen action should also serve as 
a beacon to people everywhere who seek to put an end to racism and 
anti-Semitism: it proves Margaret Mead's theory yet again that ``a 
small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.''

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