Facing History and Ourselves
16 Hurd Road
Brookline, MA 02445
Contact: Ted Scott
ted_scott@facing.org or +1- 617-735-1629

For Immediate Release

State of New Jersey announces New Armenian Genocide Curriculum using
Facing History and Ourselves’ Crimes Against Humanity and
Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians

Trenton, NJ- On Monday, June 20, 2005, the New Jersey State
Assembly unanimously approved a joint resolution commemorating
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The vote was 79-0.
The bill (AJR-125) was introduced by assemblypersons Joan M. Voss
(D-38) and Robert M. Gordon (D-38). It states in part, “This joint
resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Armenians by the
governments of the Ottoman Empire as an issue of international and
historic significance.”

Before the vote, Assemblywoman Voss (D-38), a former history teacher,
spoke about the importance of remembrance and education. “The
world closed its eyes to the Armenian Genocide,” Voss said. “It is
frightening how similar the Holocaust was to the Armenian Genocide.”

Assemblyman Gordon, in his remarks on the floor noted that “the
emotion runs strong in the Armenian community for their losses in
the Armenian Genocide.” Voss and Gordon were joined by colleagues who
made additional floor statements. Assemblyman William Payne, also an
educator, invoked the memory of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in
defending human rights. Assemblyman Bill Baroni spoke of the challenges
Armenia continues to face in its relations with modern-day Turkey.

Former New Jersey Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian was also on hand as
a special guest for the resolution’s passage. Haytaian spoke of the
losses in his family during the Armenian Genocide and of the importance
of continuing to stand witness to the memory of the victims and the
survivors. He was joined in the gallery by other guests from the
Armenian-American community, clergy, and students from the Hovnanian
School in New Milford, New Jersey, all of whom were recognized from
the Assembly floor.

After the passage of the resolution, the State of New Jersey Commission
on Holocaust Education held a press conference to announce the
introduction of a new human rights and genocide curriculum for middle
and high schools focusing on the Armenian Genocide. New Jersey is the
first state to adopt a stand-alone curriculum on the Armenian Genocide
which will be incorporated into both public and private schools.

The core of the new curriculum is Crimes Against Humanity and
Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians developed by Facing History
and Ourselves (FHAO) headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts.
This book focuses on how the history of the Armenian Genocide has
informed the growing international human rights movement. By examining
the choices that individuals, groups, and nations made before, during,
and after the genocide, readers have the opportunity to consider the
decisions of the international community in the face of massive human
rights violations.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Samantha Power, has said about this
book, “Facing History has done with this book what it does best:
bring history to life…to ask what we would have done if we had face
such wrenching and moral dilemmas.”

Peter Balakian, of Colgate University noted that Crimes Against
Humanity is “an essential and innovative exploration of the Armenian
Genocide… Facing History and Ourselves has done an extraordinary job
and demonstrates once again that it is at the forefront of education
in America.”

Additionally, the Commission developed a special teacher’s guide for
the FHAO resource book, in cooperation with the Armenian National
Institute, which it is distributing to educators statewide. The
production and distribution of the resource guide was made possible
by contributions by the Hovnanian Family and the Armenian Assembly
of America.

About Facing History and Ourselves Facing History and Ourselves in an
international educational and professional development organization
whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an
examination of racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism in order to
promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
By studying the historical development lessons of the Holocaust and
other examples of genocide, students make the essential connection
between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives.
For more information, please visit

About the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education The core
mission of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education is to
promote Holocaust education in the State of New Jersey. On a continual
basis, the Commission shall survey the status of Holocaust Education;
design, encourage and promote the implementation of Holocaust and
genocide education and awareness; provide programs in New Jersey;
and coordinate designated events that will provide appropriate
memorialization of the Holocaust on a regular basis throughout
the state. The Commission will provide assistance and advice to the
public and private schools and will meet with county and local school
officials, and other interested public and private organizations,
to assist with planning courses of study on the Holocaust.

About the Armenian National Institute The Armenian National Institute
(ANI) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated
to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
ANI is founded upon the following principles. Keeping memory alive
is imperative. Crimes against humanity must not be forgotten. Past
genocides must be confronted and acknowledged to prevent future
genocides. To meet this commitment ANI is engaged in a full-time
concentrated effort to integrate the lessons of the Armenian Genocide
into the universal understanding of the problem of genocide.

About the Armenian Assembly of America Through research, education
and advocacy, the Assembly works to strengthen U.S./Armenia and
U.S./Nagorno Karabakh relations, promotes Armenia’s and Karabakh’s
democratic development and economic prosperity and seeks universal
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

With a nation-wide network of volunteer activists, lay leaders,