ARMENIAN, JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN U.S. LAUNCH ONLINE GRASSROOTS PETITION FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2010 14:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leaders from Boston’s vibrant Armenian and Jewish
communities launched an online grassroots petition urging all people of
conscience to sign a letter to President Obama and Congress that calls
for swift passage of H. Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide resolution
currently pending in Congress, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly).

"The Assembly commends the work of this important human rights
coalition and calls on all American citizens to affirm the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide by signing the petition to your elected
Representatives," stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel
Koushakjian. The Armenian American Action Committee of Massachusetts
(ARAMAC-MA), Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts, the
Massachusetts Jewish community and Assembly anti-genocide coalition
partner Investor’s Against Genocide were instrumental in launching
the petition.

The Boston based coalition of Armenian and Jewish communities have
been engaged in a robust civil society dialogue, which was the
outcome of a 2007 rift where the local Massachusetts branch of the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) broke with national ADL leader Abraham
Foxman in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. ADL later altered
their position, and just last month stated, "We continue to believe
that there was a genocide..," yet continue to oppose legislation in
Congress that would affirm the incontestable truth.

Mirrored after H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution which
passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 2007, H. Res. 252
boasts 137 cosponsors and is currently pending in the aforementioned
committee. "What the world witnessed at the turn of the 20th century
is being repeated again at the dawn of the 21st century today in
Darfur. By signing the online petition, one can play an important
role in helping to end the vicious cycle of genocide," stated Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.