Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2013 (25. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2013-02-15 / 7. szám
Exhibition of Susan Dobay March 8 Friday, Csardas Restaurant, Hollywood 5820 Melrose Ave., Res.: 323-962-6434 Reservation is required! Hungarians who fled in communism, recall welcome in New Orleans Magda Szita was just 15 when her boyfriend told her “Let’s escape.” She said “OK” and packed a bag and handed it to him out the window, but decided she could not leave without telling her mother. It was 1956, and Hungary’s revolution against the Soviet occupation had failed. At first, the uprising against the communist regime appeared successful. The revolt, which began as a student demonstration in Budapest on Oct. 23, spread quickly and the government collapsed. On Nov. 4, the Soviet forces invaded Hungary in the dark of night with brutal retaliation, killing more than 2,500 Hungarians and causing another 200,000 to flee their homeland. By January of 1957, the Soviets had installed a new government and suppressed all opposition, but decades later the short-lived but influential revolution played a role in the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union. Of those who fled, 40,000 made it to the United States. Of those, 104 Hungarian nationals landed in New Orleans. Magda Szita and Gyula Szita, (then her 17-year-old boyfriend and now her husband of almost 56 years), two of Magda Szita’s sisters and their mother arrived at Jackson Barracks on Jan. 15, 1957. Welcomed with open arms by the city, the couple built a life and raised two children. Magda Szita said she and her husband go back to visit Hungary every two years, and it is her family that she misses most. But after a month in Hungary, she can’t wait to come home. On Friday, Gyula Szita led the crowd in the American national anthem, followed by the Hungarian national anthem. A display case, part of the new exhibit, held the 1957 newspaper clipping, the scarf Magda wore in the photo, a wedding photo of the two, a recent photo and a small box Magda Szita brought from Hungary. During the presentation, Ambassador Szapary said he was among his countrymen who fled in 1956. Szapary praised the refugees for their courage in arriving in a new land without speaking the language, away from the country they loved, but with “hearts full of hope.” On Friday at the Jackson Barracks Museum, Magda and Gyula Szita joined 12 other 1957 Hungarian refugees, the Hungarian ambassador to the United States, György Szapary, as well as numerous other family members and public officials to honor the refugees for their courage as well as the National Guard and the region for welcoming the Hungarians. The ceremony also represented the unveiling of a new exhibit featuring their arrival more than five decades ago, as well as a special plaque. The plaque was intended to be presented at the 50-year commemoration, a plan interrupted by Hurricane Katrina. Kari Dequine Harden theadvocate.com Human-trafficking victim in Canada faces deportation to Hungary Janos Bognár survived the largest human-trafficking ring ever prosecuted in Canada, but now fears he will end up back in Hungary at risk of being targeted by the crime family he helped put in jail. Despite immigration changes that are supposed to offer human-trafficking victims temporary resident permits, the 45-year-old father of three adult children has had his refugee claim denied. Bognár has been cut off by legal aid and can’t afford to pay for a lawyer. He lives in subsidized housing in Hamilton, collects welfare and cannot work because refugee claimants can’t get permits. But Bognár says he wants to stay and work in masonry. In the Oct. 2, 2012, Immigration and Refugee Board decision, board member Alexander George Johnstone writes that he believes Bognár was a victim of human trafficking, and also accepts “that his subjective fear is genuine.” But he concludes Bognár is not a refugee because he provided no evidence that the family would know he’s returned or “would have the capability to locate (him).” He is from a town on the east side of Hungary, while the criminal family is from Papa, about two hours west of Budapest. But Bognár believes he’s dead if he sets foot anywhere in Europe, he said. A Federal Court letter dated Jan. 23, 2013, indicates Bognár has not properly filled out the application that would allow him to stay in Canada while the court reviews the board’s decision. But Citizenship and Immigration says the stay of removal has been granted. Like the rest of the more than 20 people victimized by the criminal family, Bognár was recruited in Hungary on the promise of construction work. When he arrived April 7, 2010, Bognár was met at the airport by Joszef Domotor, the now 45-year-old brother of kingpin Ferenc Domotor. Bognár was told to lie to immigration and claim “he’s a gypsy being harassed in Hungary.” The family seized his passport, made him live in their basement and work long hours doing stucco. In April 2012, József Domotor pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit human trafficking and being part of a criminal organization and was sentenced to six years. Like his wife, who was sent back to Hungary fol________________________________________________________ lowing the same hearing, he will Február IS, 2013 } R «M gW * dcP°r,ed Gary Ycta>m‘-JL w thespec.com Last Saturday, on February 9th the Altadena Library hosted a multi-media presentation with artist Susan Dobay, the owner of the Scenic Drive Gallery in Monrovia. There was a display of the artist’s most recent work, Impressions of China, a series of digital collages mixing paintings and photographs from a recent trips to China. Attendees watched a film by Lance Mungia on Susan Dobay’s amazing art. (If you missed it, you can watch it here: http://wakinguniverse.com/ ?s=susan+dobay) After the film the members of Poets on Site performed their poems inspired by the images. Rick Wilson accompanied them on xiao, a traditional Chinese bamboo flute. Artist Susan Dobay (holding her camera) with Poets on Site Highest Quality Care at the Best Price! Elderly, Rehabilitating, Children, Newborn Beszélünk magyarul is! Ingyenes konzultáció otthonában. 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The Rajkó Concert
