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.

Neighborhood News

Nice to see the coverage of the inductions of Judge Ralph Perk Jr. and Judge Ray Pianka (posthumously) in the Neighborhood News.

They will be joined by Sister Alicia Alvarado, Sheila Murphy Crawford, Dr Ahtul Mehta and Abdulla Mina.

Cleveland International Hall of Fame

2018 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The 2018 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame has been announced.  The committee chose from over 100 deserving nominees and agreed unanimously on these 6 individuals.  Congratulations to the Class of 2018.

• Sister Alicia Alvarado (Puerto Rican heritage)
• Sheila Murphy Crawford (Irish heritage)
• Dr. Atul Mehta (Indian heritage)
• Abdullah (Abby) Mina (Lebanese heritage)
• Ralph Perk Jr. (Czech Heritage - American Nationalities Movement)
• Judge Ray Pianka (posthumously) (Polish heritage)

They will be inducted in a dinner ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott at Key Center downtown on Tuesday April 17, 2018.  

To place a congratulatory message in the collector’s edition program book and/or for sponsorship and ticket information e-mail dan@clevelandpeople.com or call Debbie at 216-406-6594.

More on the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

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