Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Aug 23 2007

Belmont still `No Place for Hate’

By Cassie Norton
Belmont Citizen-Herald
Thu Aug 23, 2007, 02:04 PM EDT

Belmont, Mass. –
Watertown’s unanimous decision to leave the Anti-Defamation League’s
`No Place for Hate’ program over non-profit’s position on the death
of hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens in the early 1900s may
have a national impact.

Closer to home, Belmont’s leaders are discussing the repercussions of
their neighbor’s stance.

`At this point [our position] is something to discuss,’ selectman
Paul Solomon said. `I am not ready say `Let’s tear down the signs.”

Solomon said he `deplores’ the ADL’s position on the Armenian
genocide.

`A terrible thing occurred in the early 20th century in Armenia,
whether you call it a genocide or not, and the Turkish government has
never agreed that they were responsible,’ he said. `It’s not clear
that the ADL’s [refusal to label it a genocide] makes a lot of
sense.’

The controversy began last month when the ADL’s national director,
Abraham Foxman, issued a letter stating that Congress should play no
role in recognizing the Armenian Genocide as it debates House
Resolution 106.

The resolution calls for the President to `ensure that the foreign
policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and
sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic
cleansing and the genocide documented in the United States record
relating to the Armenian Genocide.’

In an open letter to the New England Community on the ADL’s Web site,
it states that it has `never denied the massacres of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians – and by some accounts more than one million –
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1918.’

It also states that `we believe that legislative efforts outside of
Turkey are counterproductive to the goal of having Turkey itself come
to grips with its past. We take no position on what action Congress
should take on House Resolution 106.’

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Foxman said he has come to
the view that `the consequences of the actions [of the Ottoman
Empire] were indeed tantamount to genocide.’

`If the word `genocide’ had existed then, they would have called it
genocide,’ he said.

But he reiterated that the he `continues to firmly believe that a
Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians.’

Rep. Edward Markey, D-MA, is co-sponsoring House Resolution 106 and
encouraged the ADL to `reconsider its position and recognize the
Armenian Genocide.’

`The Armenian Genocide is not a historic dispute or a rhetorical
argument over semantics,’ he wrote in a statement. `A true reckoning
of history is essential, which is why I have long supported the
annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.’He said he commends
the New England region `for its principled decision on this important
issue.’

Watertown’s eight-member Town Council voted unanimously to leave the
`No Place for Hate’ program last week based on the ADL’s position on
the Armenian Genocide. Watertown, Belmont and surrounding towns have
a thriving Armenian-American population that turned out 100-strong to
support the town’s decision.

New England Regional Director Andrew Tarsy spoke in support of the
ADL at that meeting, but in subsequent weeks struggled with his
actions. On Aug. 16 he told Foxman he found the national
organization’s position `morally indefensible,’ according to the
Boston Globe. Tarsy was fired on Aug. 18.

Now it’s time for Belmont to examine where the regional branch’s
stance and the `No Place for Hate program fit in the national
organization’s rhetoric, said Rep. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont.

`The town needs to sort out how No Place for Hate program relates to
the national organization’s position and take appropriate action,’ he
said.

And the town intends to do just that. The Human Rights Commission,
who originally proposed that Belmont join `No Place for Hate’ more
than two years ago, will discuss the issue at their Sept. 6 meeting.

`We have no official stance as a group until after we’ve had a chance
to discuss it in a public meeting and with the residents,’ said Human
Right Commission chairman Laurie Graham. The HRC may hold a meeting
before September, so the residents `can at least express their
concerns.’

Pine Street resident Lenna Garibidian is one of those concerned
residents. She is drafting a letter to the HRC with support from
about 15 Armenian-American Belmont families who support withdrawing
from the `No Place for Hate’ program.

`The ADL position is hypocritical while they are preaching
tolerance,’ she said. `That sends the wrong message to the
participants of the `No Place for Hate’ program.’

Graham said the program is `great for promoting tolerance of
diversity in local communities,’ and having to separate Belmont from
the program would be `a tragedy.’ Local groups would `make sure the
intent of the program stays the same,’ she said.

Angelo Firenze, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said the
situation will be included on the board’s agenda when the HRC reaches
a resolution.

`When we voted to join `No Place for Hate,’ we wanted people to know
that racism and hatred are not welcome in Belmont, and that position
still stands,’ he said.

Firenze said he didn’t want to say that either the ADL or the
Armenian population was right or wrong.

`There’s clearly a lot of emotion on both sides of the issue,’ he
said.

Brownsberger disagreed, saying that he supports House Resolution 106
and that `the ADL is wrong.’

`It’s important for everyone to honestly face all the tragedies of
the last century, including the Armenian Genocide,’ he said. `It’s
important to send a strong message that the town is concerned about
all of the genocides’ which have and might occur.

`No Place for Hate’ aims to be a community-based campaign established
by the ADL and geared to bring awareness to and fight against
anti-Semitism, racism and all other forms of bigotry. Nearly 50
cities throughout the state are termed `No Place for Hate’ zones, and
participation is growing throughout the United States.

In its letter, the ADL calls for continued unity and mutual support
in the face of what may be an unpopular position.

`In our almost seven decades in New England, we are proud of the
community partnerships we have built and the results we have achieved
working with thousands of organizations, elected officials and
individuals committed to making this regions No Place for Hate,’ it
writes. `We cannot let one disagreement on how to proceed on one
issue undermine all our joint good work.’