Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
March 1, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA LAUNCHES ‘END TURKEY’S GAG RULE’ CAMPAIGN TO END U.S.
COMPLICITY IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

— latest effort to promote Committee
and full House passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252)

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
launched an array of grassroots, media, advertising, and advocacy
initiatives today – as part of its "End Turkey’s Gag Rule" campaign
– to encourage the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation, H.Res.252,
calling on the U.S. government to put the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide to work in preventing future crimes against humanity.

The newly inaugurated ANCA campaign comes in the wake of Sunday’s
60 Minutes program taking Turkey to task over its denial of the
Armenian Genocide, and on the eve of the Thursday, March 4th vote
by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.

"We’re pleased to launch the ‘End Turkey’s Gag Rule’ campaign as a
service to help Americans of every background to better understand
the danger of denial and the urgency of taking action now to secure
Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "As Americans, we
simply cannot allow any nation – Turkey, or China or any foreign
power – to impose a gag rule on America’s moral stand against
genocide."

The campaign, which features a compelling image of the Statue of
Liberty gagged by a Turkish flag, is anchored by an interactive
website: , that offers avenues for
advocacy in support of Armenian Genocide legislation, educational
resources on the Armenian Genocide, and social networking
opportunities.

Advertisements targeting the Congressional audience began appearing
Monday in three Capitol Hill and political online publications –
Roll Call, Politico and The Hill. The effort is set to expand in
the days leading to the House Foreign Affairs Committee vote and
continue in anticipation of full House consideration of the
measure.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) has
scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on
March 4th. Over 137 House Members have cosponsored this measure,
spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Mark Kirk (R-IL). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316),
led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) has 13
cosponsors.

Activists and organizations are encouraged to include the ‘End
Turkey’s Gag Rule’ graphic and link on their websites and blogs by
contacting elizabeth@anca.org.

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