Antiquities Coalition To Sponsor Everyday Hero Award

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the Antiquities Coalition's continued fight against cultural racketeering, we are proud to be a part of the Global Hope Coalition's work in countering violent extremism. The Global Hope Summit on September 18th, 2017 will be a spectacular showing of support for efforts against all aspects of violent extremism, including the erasure of cultural heritage through destruction and pillage as a part of a wider effort by extremists to eliminate the cultural memory and history of a people. These intricate connections between heritage and cultural identity makes it a continued target of exploitation by violent extremists as they seek to bolster their destructive efforts and fund their campaigns of terror while re-writing history.

It is our honor to recognize a hero in heritage and a leader in the fight against cultural racketeering, Colonel Matt Bogdanos, United States Marine Corps Reserves, at the upcoming Global Hope Summit. Colonel Bogdanos is currently a prosecutor for the New York County District Attorney's Office, and will be honored at the Summit with an everyday hero award for his work exposing the connection between the trafficking of illicit antiquities and terrorist financing.

"The Antiquities Coalition is honored to sponsor Colonel Bogdanos' award.  The Colonel's contributions to the field of fighting illicit trade are legendary: from leading recovery efforts from the looting of the National Museum of Iraq to the high-profile prosecution of dealers in the trade," said Deborah Lehr, Chairman and Founder of the Antiquities Coalition.

The Global Hope Coalition's event will take place on September 18th, 2017 at the New York Public Library. The event will be hosted by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and the Leadership Council of the Global Hope Coalition. The Summit will convene heads of state, including the Presidents of France, Iraq, Mali, Ghana, Malta and Bulgaria, along with other business, government, United Nations, and philanthropic agency leaders to join the discussion on fighting violent extremism and intolerance, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting intercultural dialogue.

Deborah Lehr, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Global Hope Coalition USA, is expected to speak at the summit.

The Antiquities Coalition unites a diverse group of experts in the global fight against cultural racketeering: the illicit trade in antiquities by organized criminals and terrorist organizations.

SOURCE The Antiquities Coalition