By Theodoros Pavlakos and Nikos Stamatakis

The recent decision (and its disclosure via a press release) of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York (dated April 14, 2011), according to which the journalist, and permanent correspondent for Greek media in New York, Alexandros Stefanopoulos is not allowed to enter the Federation building, as well as to attend to any event organized by the Federation, because, as it is explained to the press release, “at the webpage Greekamericannewsagency.com facts related to the federation are repeatedly published in a way that has nothing to do with reality and that is not consistent with journalistic ethics”, is an unacceptable action against the Freedom of the Press, and is not consistent with the institutions of the Great American Democracy, in which we live.            

If the Federation disagreed with the way this journalist functions, then it had every right to express publicly its opposition via a statement or press release. Furthermore, if the Federation believed that laws had been violated, it could file a lawsuit against him and ask for compensation for e.g. defamation.  

But the Federation does not have any right to prohibit anybody from entering their building and attending its public events.  It is really worth wondering with the ignorance or perhaps with the stupidity of the current Federation’s leaders, who apparently do not realize that they are leading a non-profit organization, which should abide with the laws of the State of New York.

This decision clearly violates NY State laws – and possibly Federal laws regarding the freedom of speech - and puts the Federation in big legal troubles. Besides the legal problems, this decision constitutes a huge moral and public behavior’s issue: In the year 2011 AD, it’s unbelievable anybody’s access to a public place would be forbidden.   

Unfortunately the current administration of the Federation is accustomed to press reports that cover their weaknesses and their mistakes.  Confronted with irrefutable evidence of their failure as leaders, they tried - instead of apologizing to the Greek American Community for their mistakes -  to "muzzle" the press. No  democratically thinking person would do anything like this.       

We express our opposition and we encourage everyone to condemn the Federation’s decision, along with any other anti-democratic practices, which do not have any place within the Greek American Community.