PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Harout H. Semerdjian
April 27, 2006
617-489-1597
Web:
E-mail: info@knowgenocide.org

BOSTON, MA – KNOW GENOCIDE, a multi-ethnic, non-partisan coalition was
formally launched on April 21, 2006 during a public rally outside the
Massachusetts State House following the annual Commonwealth of Massachusetts Armenian
Genocide Commemoration Ceremony in the House Chamber.
The coalition was founded to combat the ongoing denial of known instances
of genocide, including the Darfur, Bosnian, Cambodian, Jewish, Rwandan, and
the Armenian genocides. Members are united with the firm understanding that
genocide denial is the final stage of that crime and its penetration into our
schools, universities and other institutions are unethical and unacceptable.
Among the distinguished speakers at the event were Massachusetts Lt.
Governor Kerry Healey, Attorney General Tom Reilly and Congressman Edward Markey
(D-MA). Leaders of several coalition groups also spoke including Rabbi Moshe
Waldoks, Chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council Holocaust Committee,
and Mr. Jean Nganji, Executive Director of Rwanda Outlook together with
community leaders Carolyn Mugar and Heather Karfian and Representatives Rachel
Kaprielian (D-Watertown), Peter Koutoujian (D-Watertown) and State Senator
Steven Tolman (D-Boston).
While KNOW GENOCIDE is a coalition in formation, support from the people of
Massachusetts and beyond has been overwhelming. Coalition members officially
announced at the event include the Armenian Assembly of America, Jewish
Community Relations Council, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Genocide
Intervention Network, Irish Immigration Center, Massachusetts Council of
Churches, Rwanda Outlook, Armenian National Committees of Massachusetts, Center for
Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota and the
Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University.
`KNOW GENOCIDE was initiated for the purpose of exposing and countering
deliberate efforts at genocide denial,’ says Anthony Barsamian, oneof the
founders of the coalition and a Member of the Board of the Armenian Assembly of
America. `Denial of genocide has penetrated our state and nation with new
sophistication, and KNOW GENOCIDE will combat this immoral effort to uphold the
fundamental tenets of human rights, academic integrity and the historical
truth.’
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