Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
: September 12, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AFFIRM SUPPORT
FOR CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTIONS
— Urge ADL to End Opposition to Human Rights Legislation
Los Angeles, CA – A broad spectrum of Los Angeles area community groups have
joined with national organizations in speaking out in support of
Congressional legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide and in voicing
their disappointment over the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) ongoing
opposition to this human rights legislation, reported the Armenian National
Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR).
The comments come in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding ADL
National Director Abraham Foxman’s recent statements regarding the Armenian
Genocide in which he publicly opposed House and Senate Armenian Genocide
resolutions (H.Res.106 /S.Res.106). H.Res.106 enjoys the broad bipartisan
support of over 225 cosponsors in the House, a clear majority of its
membership, while S. Res. 106 currently has 31 cosponsors.
UCLA History Professor David Myers argued that, "Foxman should follow the
logic of his own statement and take the essential next step of supporting HR
106". The well-respected scholar went on to urge the Southern California
ADL Board to "either announce its support for H. Res. 106 – if not here in
the heart of the Armenian Diaspora, then where? Or else renounce the
organization’s declared mission ‘to secure justice and fair treatment for
all.’"
Jewish World Watch Founding President and Executive Director Janice
Kamenir-Reznik and Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug concurred, stating that "as a
community with first-hand knowledge and experience of the ravages of
genocide, we have a particular moral obligation to stand up and ask our
government to recognize what we know as true: that 1.5 million Armenians
were systematically slaughtered in a government-sponsored campaign of
genocide against them. The Anti-Defamation League’s announcement that it
would finally recognize the Armenian Genocide as genocide is clearly a step
in the right direction. However, we believe that the ADL, the premiere
Jewish anti-discrimination agency in this country, must go a step further
and join in asking our government to do the same." Similarly, Progressive
Jewish Alliance Executive Director Daniel Sokatch noted. "’Never Again’
applies to all people everywhere."
These Southern California Jewish American leaders and organizations added
their voice to a broad range of organizations which have called for passage
of Armenian Genocide legislation, including the American Federation of Jews
from Central Europe (New York, NY), the American Jewish World Service (New
York, NY), Americans for Peace Now (Washington,D.C.), the Center for Russian
Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (New York, NY), the Jewish
Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA), Jewish War Veterans of the
USA (Washington, D.C.), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA),
the Union for Reform of Judaism (Washington, D.C.), Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter
Ring (New York, NY) and the Zionist Organization of America (New York, NY)
Earlier this week, the Jewish community of Armenia joined the global call
for ADL to support the Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolutions.
According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), the Chairwoman of the
Armenia’s Jewish Community, Rimma Varzhapetian-Feller stated that the
failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide paved the way for the Holocaust
and stressed that a Congressional resolution could help prevent future
genocides.
Leaders in California’s prominent Greek American community also voiced
serious concern over the ADL’s morally unjustified position. "Abraham
Foxman’s refusal to support passage of H. Res. 106 properly acknowledging
the facts of the Armenian Genocide betrays the years of service that the ADL
has devoted to educating the world about the facts of the Jewish Holocaust.
Being selective when it comes to proper genocide acknowledgement is simply
absurd. Hundreds of thousands of Greeks living in the Ottoman Empire were
massacred alongside the Armenians. We urge the ADL to take the moral high
ground and support this critical piece of legislation in respect for all
victims of genocide," remarked Aris Anagnos, Vice President of the American
Hellenic Council of California.
Local leaders in the Armenian community also expressed strong disappointment
over the ADL’s lack of support for Armenian Genocide recognition
legislation. "The ADL’s position is extremely unfortunate – opposing the
resolution is completely illogical and unacceptable," remarked Glendale ANC
Executive Director Elen Asatryan. We applaud Rep. Schiff for his efforts to
bring the ADL National leadership to the right side on this core human
rights issue, we can only hope that Mr. Foxman will take Congressman
Schiff’s advice to heart by supporting Armenian Genocide recognition and
returning to his organization’s true mission of fighting racism and
bigotry."
"Watertown has set a strong example of standing up for the truth – and
standing up against both individuals and groups that, sadly, preach
tolerance while practicing division and denial," remarked La Crescenta ANC
Chairman Arick Gevorkian. "The resolution is a critical component of the
process of acknowledging and recognizing truth that deserves the support of
all groups who are working to end genocide," he added.
Darfur activists also spoke out urging the ADL to support the resolutions.
"To recognize the Genocide and to stop short of supporting the Resolution
turns a noble quest for justice into a game of politics. The Armenian
Genocide is not up for debate, and therefore, the Resolution must be passed
in order for justice to be served for all victims of genocide and
mass-atrocities," stated Pastor Vazken Movsesian, Priest at Saint Peter
Armenian Church and Youth Ministry Center in Glendale, California.
Movsesian is also the Director of In His Shoes Ministries, a mission and
movement which rallies support for the suffering in the world, and has
traveled to Africa to help end the cycle of genocide.
Sarah Czuleger, member of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Chapter of STAND, an anti-genocide student coalition, stated that, "as an
organization committed to ending the cycle of genocide, we call upon the ADL
and all community and civic organizations to support the Armenian Genocide
resolutions in Congress."
"The Darfur Action Committee of UC-Irvine strongly supports the passage of
H. Res. 106. In solidarity with worldwide Save Darfur Coalitions, the Darfur
Action Committee understands the moral and humane importance of recognizing
the first genocide of the 20th century. In order to take action and provide
aid for the people of Darfur, the international community must first heal
the past. Our hearts and efforts stand with the Armenian community in this
incredibly imperative issue," stated Anita Issagholyan, co-chairwoman of the
Darfur Action Committee at the University of California, Irvine. We urge ADL
to join us in solidarity of human rights, genocide recognition and justice
for all mankind by supporting the Armenian Genocide resolution," she added.
The ADL controversy was sparked by Foxman’s April statements in the Los
Angeles Times denying the Armenian Genocide and opposing Congressional
Armenian Genocide legislation. These statements precipitated a groundswell
of civic activism in Watertown, Massachusetts, leading to the unanimous
August 14th Town Council decision to disassociate from the ADL’s "No Place
for Hate" tolerance program. Within 48 hours, the New England Regional ADL
called on the national leadership to speak truthfully and honestly about the
Armenian Genocide and support Congressional Armenian Genocide legislation.
Foxman, who had claimed ignorance of the facts of the Armenian Genocide and
opposed its Congressional reaffirmation in subsequent interviews with the
Boston Globe and a number of Jewish American publications, fired Tarsy,
precipitating the resignation of several ADL New England Regional Board
Members. Following widespread outrage by the New England area civil rights
activists, Foxman issued a "Statement on the Armenian Genocide" where he
concluded that the crimes perpetrated against the Armenian people in 1915
were "tantamount to genocide" but said that the ADL remained opposed to
Armenian Genocide legislation. Soon thereafter, he rehired Tarsy and pledged
that the ADL would review its position on the legislation during a November
national meeting.
New England "No Place for Hate" communities, unsatisfied with both Foxman’s
statements and his continued opposition to the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
continue to call for ADL support for this legislation and to urge towns to
suspend or sever their ties with NPFH until the ADL revises it position.
For complete coverage of this controversy, visit:
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots public affairs organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR promotes awareness of issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.