The AHEPAN - Fall 2015 - 9

AHEPA FAMILY NEWS

AHEPA Denounces Pa. Judge's Anti-Greek Tirade
AHEPA denounced an anti-Greek
tirade by Judge Michael F.X. Coll during
a child-support case in July, and called
for his ouster, announced Supreme
President John W. Galanis.
According to a court transcript
cited in an NBC10 news report, the
following exchange occurred between
Judge Coll, Kostas "Gus" Hartas, and
Hartas' attorney:
Coll asked Hartas, "Are you of Greek
background sir?"
"Yes sir," Hartas replied.
"Right, the Greeks never pay taxes,"
Coll said.
As Hartas' attorney objected, Coll
then said, "That's why their country is
in bankruptcy."
Hartas' attorney objected again but
Coll continued his rant.
"So can I take judicial note of the fact
that the Greeks are in bankruptcy as a
nation and one of the reasons, the principal reason is because none of them
ever pay taxes?" Coll asked.
"Your Honor, I object to lumping
my client in with the entire country of
Greece," the attorney replied.
According to Galanis, who is an
attorney, it is upsetting to hear derogatory comments being made from officers of the court, individuals who are

development and emergence of
elected for fair and impartial approach
American citizens of Greek heritage
to complex legal issues.
into every facet of society: government,
"Simply stated, Judge Coll's tirade
business, education, and the arts. This
is offensive and unacceptable," Galanis
fulfillment illustrates the promise of
said. "To assert one individual's abilthe American Dream and symbolizes
ity to pay child support is based on
the hard work ethic of our immigrant
that individual's ethnic background
forbearers who labored to achieve that
demonstrates prejudice. Then to
dream with the principles of Hellenism
make a comparison, or an attempt to
rooted deep in their hearts."
somehow link it to what
Executive Director Basil
has transpired in Greece
Mossaidis stated Judge
with its people during an
Coll's tirade was especially
unprecedented economic
troubling to him because
crisis, which is unrelated
Mossaidis was born and
to the individual in quesraised in Delaware County.
tion, is downright disgrace"Judge Coll's offensive
ful. Not only was Judge
remarks really do hit home,
Coll's tirade anti-Greek; it
literally," he said. "The
was anti-American."
American Hellenic comGalanis added, "Despite
Judge Michael F.X. Coll
munity is so vibrant, holds
Judge Coll's apology, we
civic responsibility in such high regard,
call for his ouster. With such a sigand gives back to the greater good,
nificant Greek American presence
especially in Delaware County. As a
in Delaware County, Pennsylvania,
public servant, Judge Coll should know
including three AHEPA chapters and
this. I find his tirade very troubling."
three Greek Orthodox parishes, Judge
Coll is unfit to sit on the bench."
He continued, "The American
Judge's Apology
Hellenic community is one of the
As reported by NBC10, Judge Coll's
hardest-working and well-educated
apology is the following: "My language
ethnic groups in the United States
does not accurately reflect my feelings
and is woven deeply into the fababout the Greek community. I regret
ric of America. AHEPA has served
the language I used during the hearas a vital vehicle for the progressive
ing."

Learn more about programming from the
AHEPA Educational Foundation.
Visit www.ahepa.org today.

www.ahepa.org

Fall 2015 · THE AHEPAN

http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/courts/judges/coll.html http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Judge-Delaware-County-Courthouse-Racist-Rant-Child-Support-322353432.html http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/courts/judges/coll.html http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Judge-Delaware-County-Courthouse-Racist-Rant-Child-Support-322353432.html http://www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Fall 2015