ARMENIANS, JEWS PROTEST ABE FOXMAN’S APPEARANCE IN NEW YORK
armradio.am
11.09.2007 10:30
On Thursday, September 7, 2007, nearly 70 protesters gathered in front
of the 92nd Street Y here to protest the appearance of Abraham Foxman,
National Director of the Anti- Defamation League. Organized by the
new Jewish youth publication Jewcy.com, the rally also included dozens
of Armenian activists who joined in pointing out the ADL’s hypocrisy
in its approach to the Armenian Genocide.
For more than one hour, protesters waved placards such as "No Place for
Denial" along with cartoons of Foxman saying "It’s Not Genocide Until
I Say It Is." During this time, protesters loudly denounced Foxman
and called upon the ADL to reverse its position against H.R. 106,
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, which is now before Congress.
The rally took place directly across the street from the 92nd Street
Y, where Foxman and former US Presidential Advisor Stuart Eizenstat
were appearing on a panel addressing "Modern Anti- Semitism."
Attendees entering the hall seemed often surprised at the gathering,
which vociferously denounced the ADL for its equivocation on an issue
it should be championing.
Following the rally, Jewcy.com Associate Editor Michael Weiss addressed
the crowd stating: "An organization founded to combat bigotry and
racism now denies one of the first genocides of the 20th century is
beneath contempt." Weiss was joined by Doug Geogerian, Chairman of
the Armenian National Committee of New York, who thanked JEWCY, the
Jewish and Armenian communities for their support on this important
issue. Protesters also distributed hundreds of flyers to attendees
as they left the 92nd Street Y following Foxman’s appearance.
In recent weeks, the ADL has been under pressure from a series of
grass-roots protests, led by the Armenian National Committee along
with progressive Jewish figures. As a result, last month it backed
away from its longstanding policy of complicity in Turkey’s denial
of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian and some Jewish leaders remain
concerned; however, as the ADL continues to use equivocal, euphemistic
phrasing, and has continued to openly oppose the Armenian Genocide
Resolution–H.R. 106–now under consideration by the US Congress. At
the same time, Mr. Foxman, has added to the controversy by apologizing
to the Turkish government for any difficulty this turnaround has
created for the Turkish government, while failing to offer even a
token expression of regret to Armenians for the ADL’s longstanding,
public record of genocide denial.
To date, the rally has received coverage from several local and
international media outlets.