Captive Nations Week 2020

Captive Nations Week was first recognized in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the urging of future Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk Sr. and Congressmen Charles Vanik and US Senator Frank Lausche. Captive Nations Week has been supported each 3rd week in July by every US president since.

Judge Ralph Perk Jr. is the current (and only the third) president of the American Nationalities Movement. The first president was his father, the late Mayor Ralph Perk. He was followed by Irene Morrow. All three have been inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to the region's ethnic diversity and heritage.

 

Judge Ralph Perk Jr.

The American Nationalities Movement was formed for the purpose of uniting all the nationalities in the United States in the goal to educate, advocate and represent their interests of all the diverse ethnic groups to the public and mostly to the political leaders of the United States. This pursuit of our common interest to achieve an understanding of the complex issues that confront each group individually and collectively and that without our united efforts all of us will be endanger.
Judge Perk gave some opening remarks and then read the current proclamation from President Donald Trump.

Czech Cultural Garden in Cleveland

Joseph Meissner

The annual Captive Nations week dinner event could not be held because of the Coviv19 pandemic so Judge Perk and a few community leaders gathered (socially distant) in the Czech Cultural Garden in Cleveland.

Michael Patterson, Joe Meissner, Pierre Bejjani, Ralph Perk and Paul Burik

Photos and videos of Captive Nations Week in Cleveland

American Nationalities Movement Captive Nations Awards Ceremony

The American Nationalities Movement of Ohio held its 57th annual Captive Nations dinner program on Thursday July 18, 2019.

The American Nationalities Movement was formed for the purpose of uniting all the nationalities in the United States in the goal to educate, advocate and represent their interests of all the diverse ethnic groups to the public and mostly to the political leaders of the United States. This pursuit of our common interest to achieve an understanding of the complex issues that confront each group individually and collectively and that without our united efforts all of us will be endanger.

President Eisenhower, and every successive U.S. President up to the administration of President Donald Trump, has declared the third week of July to be Captive Nations Week.

Three deserving people were honored at the American Nationalities Movement Captive Nations Awards Ceremony: Rick DeChant Jr., John Sabol and Gia Hoa Ryan.

Pictures and videos of the Captive Nations program

Irene Morrow, Rick DeChant, Gia Hoa Ryan, John Sabol and Ralph Perk Jr.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall

Judge Ralph Perk Jr. introduced Terrence J. Smith for a special presentation at the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio’s 56th annual Captive Nations Dinner on July 20, 2017. 

Mr. Smith gave a recreation of Ronald Reagan's June 12, 1987 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Germany.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

Video of the Reagan Brandenburg Gate speech recreation

Terrence J. Smith

56th annual Captive Nations Dinner

In the early months of 1959 US Senator from Ohio Frank J. Lausche and Congressman Michael Feighan had submitted the Joint Congressional Resolution 111 authorizing the United States President to issue the “Captive Nations ‘Week” Proclamation. That resolution condemned the aggressive Soviet policies that had caused the subjugation of many ‘captive’ nations to harsh communist regimes.

Then Cleveland Councilman Ralph J. Perk responded to Senator Lausche’s and Congressman Feighan’s request for support by bringing together a bi-partisan coalition of ethnic organizations that contacted nationality leaders all over the country and urged them to work for passage of Resolution 111. It took place on July 17, 1959 and was then signed by President Eisenhower.

The Resolution encouraged annual Presidential Proclamations focused on the plight of the captive nations with suggested appropriate ceremonies to be held every third week in July.

In 1990, the American Nationalities Movement held the first “freedom Celebration” and awarded “freedom” medals to its steadfast supporters including one to President George H. W. Bush.

The 56th annual Captive Nations Dinner was held July 20, 2017.

Irene Morrow, Kathleen Vencl and Judge Ralph Perk Jt.

German host Joe Wendel honored by American Nationalities Movement

The American Nationalities Movement honored Joe Wendel of the German Community and host of the German radio show on WCPN 90.3 at the annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland on July 14, 2016.

Wendel told how the Oktoberfest and other similar events allowed Germans to once again be open with pride in their heritage.

Captive Nations Dinner – Jim Craciun Keynote Part 3 of 3

James M. Craciun was the keynote speaker at the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland Ohio.  End  of the speech.

Captive Nations Dinner – Jim Craciun Keynote Part 2 of

James M. Craciun was the keynote speaker at the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland Ohio.  Part 2 of the speech.

Captive Nations Dinner – Jim Craciun Keynote Part 1

James M. Craciun was the keynote speaker at the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland Ohio.  Part 1 of the speech