Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Delivers Remarks at Turkish Flag Raising Ceremony

October 29, 2022

Commissioner Manuel Castro, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs: Thank you so much, Ibrahim, thank you so much to the Bowling Green Association for this tremendous partnership that allows us to celebrate our diaspora and immigrant communities here in New York. When I ran into Ibrahim in an event, I think, Staten Island…

Ibrahim Kurtulus, Vice Chairman, Bowling Green Association: Yes.

Commissioner Castro: We spoke and immediately got our heads together and said, why don't we do this for our communities in Lower Manhattan? Not just in our neighborhoods across the city, but in such an important historical location, not just for New York, but for the country. And so, it's 10 months in and we've raised many, many flags, celebrated many, many communities. So I'm very proud of our friendship, Ibrahim, and the partnership we have with the Bowling Green Association.

Again, this is a location, not just pivotal to New York City, but also to the country where we celebrate our common struggle and fight for democracy, for liberty, and for opportunity. And who better than our diaspora communities to celebrate such values? And I see the mayor of New York is here, so let's give it up for the mayor of the City of New York. Long live…

Kurtulus: (Inaudible.)

Commissioner Castro: Okay, okay, so…

Kurtulus: I have a couple more announcements.

Commissioner Castro: Long live Türkiye.

Commissioner Castro: Long live the City of New York, and long live Ibrahim. Thank you so much.

Kurtulus: So many help here. Let me thank you, Israfil. Where are you, Israfil? Where are you? Thank you. Since eight this morning he's here from New Jersey helping me. I'm very, very grateful. Thank you. Okay. Let us welcome… May I welcome... 99 years is a great joy for us. But what makes it more of a joy is, let me welcome your honor to the proclamation celebration of the Republic of Türkiye here in the people's park of Bowling Green, and no one's park but the city's park and the people's park, and the loyal Turkish American community. Your presence here today, especially during this celebration, brings us all supreme joy, and honor, and strength, which only the chief executive of New York City could offer us. Let us all welcome your honorable Eric Adams. You honor us with your presence. We wish you, sir, our great city, our respective countries, and all people of good will, best wishes, and God bless the Republic of Turkiye. God bless America. Welcome Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Such a significant day to be here at a flag raising. A country that I have visited many times, probably six or seven times, and really enjoy the spirit and the history of Turkey. From Istanbul to Cappadocia to Antalya, to so many different places, and understanding the Sister City Agreement that we have in one of the important cities, Üsküdar in Turkey. And so the real spirit and energy. We know that New York City is the Istanbul of America, and we want to continue to thank this community, the people of Turkey, small business owners, you believe in education, you believe in public safety, you believe in the power of really reaching out across our different cultures and making this a great city. And I want to thank all that are here as we raise the flag. The energy is to raise the spirit and energy of our city. My good friend, Consul General Özgür is really someone that I have communicated with for many years during his time, and now as the Council General, as he brings together the spirit and energy of the Turkish people here in New York. 

So, thank you for coming today. This is a significant moment as we raise the flags of all of our different cultures. That's what makes our city great. It is the melting pot of the energy of all of our cultures coming together and stating we are one as a city. Thank you to the Turkish people. Thank you so much. I appreciate you, and a proclamation.

Whereas... Where's the consul general? Consul general...Whereas Turkish Americans have long enhanced the five boroughs, and they will continue to play a key role as we take bold steps to come back stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, grow our economy, and build a safer, fairer, more prosperous future for all. At today's ceremony in Manhattan, historic Bowling Green Park, Turkish New Yorkers will commemorate the milestone foundation of their homeland by raising its red flag, featuring a white star, and crescent moon, which will fly proudly next to the American flag. Today's event is also a wonderful occasion to celebrate the vibrant tradition of this vital community and our enduring friendship with their homeland. I look forward to the many ways everyone gathered would further invigorate New York as we unite to get stuff done, to rebuild. Eric Adams, mayor of the City of New York.

###