NEW YORK – New York City Council Member Costa Constantinides, of Greek-Cypriot descent, shared the following statement in honor of the Bicentennial of Greek Independence on March 25:

“Two hundred years ago the Greek people began the struggle to break the chains of Ottoman oppression and reclaim their birthright as the guardians of the spark of democracy. While great military leaders like Theodoros Kolokotronis fought valiantly to repel the occupying forces, men and women around the world rallied to the Greek battle cry of freedom. Today, we honor those who struggled and died to liberate our homeland, the homeland of Socrates and Plato, the homeland of Euclid and Pythagoras, and the homeland of Aeschylus and Aristophanes. They ensured that Greece, the cradle of so much of Western civilization, could rise up and take her place among the family of nations once again.

“To them, and to all of you, I wish a happy Independence Day. Zήτω η Ελλάδα!”