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Turkish American National Steering Committee - TASC (23 April 2020)

April 23 is celebrated in Turkey as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

April 23, 2020, is also the centennial of the first meeting of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

On April 23, 1920, during the Turkish War of Independence, the first meeting of the Turkish Grand National Assembly took place in Ankara and laid the foundations of the independent, democratic, and secular Republic of Turkey.

Allied Forces had invaded Turkey in late 1918, but were met with brave resistance and defeated by the Turkish people by 1922. The Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923, and the Turkish Republic was declared on October 29, 1923.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Independence War and founder of the Republic, dedicated April 23 to the Turkish children- future of Turkey and guardians of the Republic.

Inspired by Turkish Children’s Day, in 1979 UNESCO recognized April 23 globally as Children's Day.

TASC strives to empower Turkish Americans across America. Just as Ataturk envisioned, we entrust the next generation of Turks to honor and protect the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Turkey.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey