Golden Dawn seeks to unify Greeks, the “true” Greeks in Greece, but also all over the world. In their 12 points, similar to the Young Lord’s, they speak of their goals…a superior Greek race, the removal of illegal immigrants in Greece, protecting and aiding the “true” Greek population. They do not care about the refugees in Greece suffering, or the rising body count because of them in Greece. They will do anything to purify the Greek homeland. Sound familiar? It should.

The Golden Dawn party or “nationalistic movement” as President Michaliolakis tries to call it in his interview with RAI 1, has a mini-hub in Astoria, Queens where they preach the same ideologies to try gain support from the Greeks living in the United States. Although there is not much information about their presence here in New York – they refuse to do interviews or speak to the public unless they are being antagonistic at Greek-American events – it is clear why they are here. They seek to unify and homogenize the truly Greek people, thus they chose to come to Astoria, New York because there is a large Greek population here. They need support, funds, food and votes. In the past, they even posed as a philanthropic group gathering food for the Greek people suffering, after they donated these funds they were given Golden Dawn t-shirts. This is how they figured out that they were preyed on for their Greek nationalism and contributed money to a neo-Nazi group.

Golden Dawn supporters are present at many Greek cultural events such as the Greek Independence Day Parade and various Greek-American radical film showings. They are menacing with their close-cropped hair and identical ensembles with Nazi-like symbols and rhetoric, but many groups and Greek-Americans do not let Golden Dawn get away with preaching their rhetoric. Their rhetoric includes Anti-semetic and xenophobic comments where they preach that illegal immigration is ruining Greece and places like America. They glorify whiteness and rival the ideas of white supremacists in America. Yet, most Greeks in the U.S do not agree with their messages and they do not support Golden Dawn, those who do refuse to speak on their beliefs and often hide behind their computer screens posting comments on the XAAMERIKI website (Golden Dawn’s website). They post horrible things like, “the jews will not take control of the peloponese in southern greece. i am moving there and bringing guns with me.” They are fueled with hate, but take cyberbullying measures.

Golden Dawn being in the United States is a scary thing. They strike a chord with the pride of Greeks and their nationalistic tendencies and I don’t think that it is a surprise. Coming from personal experience, I know what this is like, there is nothing more important to a Greek than their country and if there is, they are usually shunned. In addition, Greeks often do not inter-marry with other cultures and if you do – usually people, even family will call your spouse a “xeni.” (outsider). Golden Dawn being in the United States clearly has something to do with our current political climate. Illegal immigrants are seen as aliens by our President who wants to deport them and build a wall. Fascism is a real problem and so is white supremacy. Golden Dawn in Greece even endorses what Trump is doing, complimenting him. Golden Dawn Greece also allies with fascist Italy, thus its clear what this means for politics in Europe and in the United States; fascism needs to be stopped and rioted against. Nazis shouldn’t be allowed to roam free in the United States and be encouraged by our President. I hope that Greek-Americans (and all people) continue to see through the façade of Golden Dawn, their Neo-Nazi ideals, and fascism striving to stop these ideals and other groups like this. This year, there was a protest against allowing the supporters to hand out fliers and leaflets at the parade and in the past, at the Greek-American Radicals: The Untold Story film showing, older Greek men threw them out when they tried to gain attention with a megaphone.

Mikis Theodorakis states, “especially for us Greeks, it is the values that have enabled us to face victoriously throughout the centuries major and dangerous ordeals, while remaining true to the basic principles of Hellenism.”

Sources:

Amaral, Aaron. “NYC Activists Confront Golden Dawn.” SocialistWorker.org, 1 Jan. 4289, socialistworker.org/2012/10/17/confronting-golden-dawn-in-nyc.

Orfanos, Spyros. “Firsthand View of Golden Dawn’s Thuggery in U.S.” The National Herald, 13 June 2013, www.thenationalherald.com/1133/firsthand-view-of-golden-dawns-thuggery-in-u-s/.

Ledes, Richard C., director. Golden Dawn, NYC. YouTube, YouTube, 10 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdCEY2uNk88.

Limited, Alamy. “Stock Photo – Supporters of Democracy in Greece Protest against the Rise of the Golden Dawn Political Party at the Greek Consulate in NY.” Alamy, 2013, www.alamy.com/stock-photo-supporters-of-democracy-in-greece-protest-against-the-rise-of-the-53124030.html.

Subs, Golden Dawn Dubs &, director. Interview with NG Michaloliakos on RAI 1. YouTube, YouTube, 14 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjeQ6J0jkbg.

Subs, Golden Dawn Dubs &, director. Golden Dawn on the Results of the American Election. YouTube, YouTube, 9 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xlo84PsT_w.

Subs, Golden Dawn Dubs &. “Golden Dawn New York NYC Χρυσή Αυγή Νέας Υόρκης.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQTYZpvrY1A&feature=youtu.be.

Subs, Golden Dawn Dubs &. “Golden Dawn New York NYC Χρυσή Αυγή Νέας Υόρκης.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQTYZpvrY1A&feature=youtu.be.

“What Is Golden Dawn New York?” Xaameriki, 24 June 2014, xaameriki.wordpress.com/about/.