PRESS RELEASE from John Weston

PRESS RELEASE Dear People of Rhodes, I write to you in this moment of hardship to acknowledge the very real suffering that many of you are enduring. The strain of siege, fear, and uncertainty weighs heavily on us all, and your pain is neither unseen nor forgotten. However, I must speak plainly: I do not condone the rioting that has emerged within our city. Such actions, though born of desperation, only serve to weaken us at a time when unity is our greatest strength. Disorder within our walls aids the enemy beyond them, and we cannot afford to fracture while the Ottoman threat remains at our gates. You must also know this: the battle is not lost. Our forces continue to hold the line, and in key engagements we are beginning to regain the advantage. The resolve of our defenders remains unbroken, and the enemy has not succeeded in overcoming our defenses. I ask each of you now for patience and solidarity. Stand together, support one another, and trust in the strength of Rhodes. If we remain united, we will endure. John Weston