BELMONT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO SEVER TIES WITH ADL
armradio.am
11.09.2007 14:39
Over 100 residents applauded the Belmont, MA Human Rights Commission
decision to unanimously call on the local Board of Selectmen to sever
ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), citing their ongoing
opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition, reported the Armenian
National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts (ANC-EM).
Belmont Human Rights Commission (BHRC) Chairwoman Laurie Graham
presided over the town hall meeting which featured a groundswell
of poignant statements by residents of Armenian, Jewish and diverse
backgrounds citing that opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition
is offensive to local citizenry and runs counter to the most basic
principles of a local program promoting tolerance and human rights.
ï~^"We applaud the Belmont Human Rights Commission for standing
up for truth and human dignity by rejecting ties with the ADL –
an organization against Armenian Genocide recognition,ï~^" stated
Aram Kaligian of the ANC-EM. ï~^"In Belmont and cities across
Massachusetts, we are seeing democracy in action ï~^- our diverse
communities speaking out, collectively, to support U.S. reaffirmation
of the Armenian Genocide, in our ongoing struggle to stamp out genocide
around the world.ï~^"
Belmont Armenian American community activist Lenna Garibian, a grand
daughter of genocide survivors, stated that the question at hand was
not about the reality of the Armenian Genocide but about the moral
imperative to speak openly and honestly about this crime against
humanity. ï~^"No Armenian should sit with a revisionist Turkish
historianï~^… to discuss whether the genocide happened or not. The
world knows. Turkey knows. [ADL director] Abe Foxman knows. This was
a genocide," explained Garibian who went on to note that HRC decision
ï~^"sets a good tone moving forward, that Belmont will not tolerate
an equivocation of the truth, of justice."
That sentiment was echoed throughout speeches given during the
evening, with emphasis on ending Genocide and Holocaust denial in all
forms. Massachusetts State Assemblywoman Rachel Kaprielian cited the
resurging trend of Holocaust denial worldwide as survivors pass away
and a political gap between the younger and older generations widens.
ï~^"The survivors see what is coming down the road, just as their
parents saw it,ï~^" explained Kaprielian. ï~^"You have so much power
and ability to say to our government, ï~^’This is factï~^’, while
there are still survivors alive,ï~^" continued Kaprielian.
Speakers also focused on U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
and overall commitment to ending this crime against humanity. Belmont
resident Joyce Barsam quoted author Samantha Powers from her Pulitzer
Prize winning book A Problem From Hell,stating ï~^"If only America
had been made of more upstanders, instead of bystanders- America
would be in a very different position today.ï~^" Barsam continued,
stating ï~^"I am asking this committee to be upstanders instead of
bystanders of the Armenian Genocide. We hope you stand up for the
truth and the human rights that you are commissioned to support.ï~^"
Expressing concern about the ADLï~^’s opposition to Armenian Genocide
legislation citing the safety of Jews in Turkey, Belmont resident
Lisa Sedrakian argued that ï~^"if Jews are affected in Turkey, it
will be the Turks to blame, not the Armenian-American community.ï~^"
Watertown Town Council Member and sponsor of the resolution severing
her townï~^’s ties with the ADL Marilyn Petitto Devaney was forceful
in her demands that the National ADL end its campaign against the
Armenian Genocide Resolution. ï~^"I want the National ADL to stop
lobbying to kill the Genocide Resolution [in Congress and the House],
as they have done for years. This could be the year we prevail.ï~^"
Dr. Jack Nusan Porter, former Rabbi, Director of the Spencer Institute
and a treasurer of the International Association of Genocide Scholars,
who has been an outspoken opponent to the ADL’s opposition to Armenian
Genocide recognition, stated `I fear for the future of the ADL. I
think this could tear it apart. You must send a powerful message to
sever ties with the ADL now.’
ANC Eastern Massachusetts Representative Aram Kaligian was clear in the
Armenian American communityï~^’s request of the BHRC members. ï~^"We
urge you to stand with the Armenian American and Jewish American
communities in helping the ADL national leadership come to the right
side on this issue,ï~^" explained Kaligian, calling for unambiguous
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and support for Armenian Genocide
legislation. Kaligian went on to urge attendees to ï~^"get the phone
numbers of the Town Selectmen here, and call them and let them know
how you feel about the ADLï~^’s attempts to cast doubt on the tragic
events of 1915. . . And if you think that you might feel a little
uncomfortable calling up a stranger and telling him how you feel
about the denial of the Armenian Genocide, I want you to remember the
stories your grandparents told you about how they walked through the
desert. . . They had the courage to live through these atrocities,
the least we can do is have the courage to pick up the phone and
call our Town Selectmen and demand that they not tarnish the memory
of our grandparents.ï~^"
The BHRC voted overwhelmingly to sever ties with the ADL ï~^-
a decision considered seriously by two Belmont Selectmen present
at the proceedings. According to the Belmont Citizen Herald,
Selectman Paul Solomon said ï~^"he was in total support of the HRC’s
position. ï~^’This is in advance of the [selectmen’s discussion],
but I will support their stand.ï~^’ï~^" Selectman Dan Leclerc stated
he was ï~^"in the process of processing [the decision.]ï~^"
The BHRC vote to sever ties comes as cities affiliated with the
ADLï~^’s ï~^"No Place for Hateï~^" tolerance program throughout
Massachusetts reconsider their ties to an organization with a history
of Armenian Genocide denial and which continues to oppose Congressional
Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.106 /S.Res.106). Watertown was
the first to disaffiliate with the tainted NPFH program, followed by a
suspension of ties by Arlington, and decisions by the towns of Newton,
Needham, Newburyport, Bedford to cut ties if the ADL does not alter
its policies on the Armenian Genocide.
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