Newton remains no place for hate

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By Chrissie Long/Staff Writer
GateHouse News Service
Wed Aug 22, 2007, 04:11 PM EDT
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Newton –

Members of the Human Rights Commission have postponed their decision to
withdraw from a long-standing program in the city.

Unwilling to disassociate from No Place for Hate just yet, commission
members are stalling to see tensions are resolved within the parent
organization.

"Given the way that things are developing every single day, we are in the
process of waiting to see what develops," Beverly Droz, staff director for
the HRC said, reiterating the position of the commission.

Newton may break ties with the tolerance-promoting organization if the
national director continues to oppose federal legislation, which would
officially recognize the Armenian genocide.

"I believe this is a defining issue," Mayor David Cohen told the Human
Rights Commission during their Aug. 21 meeting. "[It] will determine whether
Newton can remain a No Place for Hate community."

The small side chamber in City Hall could not hold the number of audience
members present for that evening’s meeting. Residents of Newton, Watertown,
Cambridge, Needham and other surrounding communities squeezed into that
meeting room and trickled out into the hall.

"[This meeting] has made me really proud to be part of Newton," said
Jonathan Shapira, a Newton resident and a former Anti-Defamation League
employee (the organization that sponsors No Place for Hate.) "Frankly, I was
very disturbed with what happened to a great organization with a misguided
national leader.

To the Human Rights Commission, he said, "[I would recommend] that you
continue to do everything you can to support the regional board and continue
to put pressure on the national leadership."

Most audience members seemed content with a "wait and see" response, rather
than a withdrawal.

"I am thrilled that Newton isn’t severing its ties," said Newtonville
resident Nancy Aykanian. "I think Newton’s strategy is an appropriate
one=85What I find profoundly exciting is how things are moving and percolating
upward=85This is how democracy works."

Mark Sideris, who serves as Vice President for Watertown Town Council, was
present at Newton’s meeting. While his community chose to withdraw from the
organization, he was pleased with Newton’s response.

"Watertown went to the extreme," he said. "But I want to applaud the
efforts in Newton." Communities need to continue to pressure the national
ADL until it supports congressional legislation, he said. Yesterday,
Arlington pulled out of the certification process for No Place for Hate.

Others argued that Newton did not go far enough.

"If you don’t change the head, the body can’t function normally," said
Needham resident Gulnar Sahagian, whose grandmother used to tell bedtime
stories of the Armenian genocide. "Thanks for the effort, but I am hoping
you can do more."

Anatol Zukerman, a candidate for alderman, expressed his disappointment in
Newton’s inaction.

"I am very concerned about this situation," he told commission members.
"The best way to put pressure on the national ADL is to join the town of
Watertown in their withdrawal from the No Place for Hate program. I suggest
that this commission [disassociate itself] from the No Place for Hate
program until or unless No Place for Hate changes its position."

Members of the Human Rights Commission were in agreement in their
opposition to the national director’s statement.

During the Aug. 21 meeting, they issued a vote of confidence in the mayor’s
efforts, decided to draft two more letters to national and regional ADL and
to ultimately wait for the waters to calm within the organization.

"We need to make sure that we are addressing the issue [now]," said Sona
Petrossian, a member of the Human Rights Commission. "We need to ensure that
we stay active [and] that we are right behind Watertown. Being under the
umbrella of No Place for Hate makes us responsible. I will not be under an
umbrella when I do not believe in everything that umbrella stands for."

*Chrissie Long can be reached at clong@cnc.com.*

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