NEW CAMPAIGN TO MOBILIZE TURKISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Hurriyet
May 5 2010
Turkey
The ‘Ten Thousand Turks’ campaign will create an important force in
US politics on issues that impact Turkey while opening a new chapter
of Turkish American activism. Turkish Coalition USA’s Lincoln McCurdy
says: ‘Greek Americans, Armenian Americans and other ethnic groups have
the same rights. Only Turkish Americans have not taken advantage of
them’ Long considered a voiceless minority, Turkish-Americans and U.S.
sympathizers of the country have launched a "Ten Thousand Turks"
campaign as a grassroots initiative committed to changing the political
dialogue on Turkish-U.S. relations.
"In reality the burden of maintaining stability in the U.S.-Turkish
relationship is through Turkish American political activism and the
‘Ten Thousand Turks’ campaign will be the catalyst in launching the
mobilization of the Turkish American community," Lincoln McCurdy,
treasurer of Turkish Coalition USA Political Action Committee,
or TC-USA PAC, told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a
Wednesday interview.
The group is hoping to build a community of 10,000 Turkish Americans
and American friends of Turkey by Oct. 29, Turkish Republic Day.
Since its inception in 2007, the TC-USA PAC has raised over $270,000
from Turkish Americans and friends of Turkey to distribute as
political contributions to candidates who understand the importance
of U.S.-Turkish relations.
"By supporting the ‘Ten Thousand Turks’ campaign, Turkish Americans
are utilizing their rights as citizens to participate in the U.S.
political system," McCurdy said. "Greek Americans, Armenian Americans
and other ethnic groups have the same rights. Only Turkish Americans
have not taken advantage of them."
Before 2007 there were no Turkish American political action committees,
or PACs, in the U.S, but there are now two, the TC-USA PAC in
Washington D.C. and the Turkish PAC in Houston, Texas.
McCurdy said U.S. law forbids nonprofit organizations, which include
many Turkish-American organizations, from participating in political
activities.
"These organizations are not permitted to endorse or oppose candidates
and cannot raise money for political contributions. PACs, on the
other hand, are permitted to do such activities," he said.
While explaining one of the purposes of the campaign, McCurdy said
it would demonstrate to U.S. politicians on local, state and federal
levels that there is a dynamic group in the Turkish American community
engaged in political activism.
The campaign is expected to become an important force in political
matters that impact Turkey.
"By supporting the ‘Ten Thousand Turks’ campaign, Turkish Americans
will no longer need to be on the defensive but can be instrumental
in ensuring that there is balanced dialogue concerning issues of
importance to them," said McCurdy. "By being politically involved
Turkish Americans can play a constructive role in shaping U.S. foreign
policy."
McCurdy said the campaign would also be a network of support for
Turkish Americans who decide to run for public office.
"Currently, there have been only two Turkish Americans ever elected
to public office, both on the local level. No Turkish American has
ever been elected to state or federal office. We want to change that,"
he said.
The campaign is open to all Turkish Americans and American friends
of Turkey.
"Though only Turkish Americans and other American friends of Turkey
can become one of 10,000, everyone who supports Turkish Americans,
including all Turks, can help spread awareness about the campaign,"
said McCurdy.
In addition to the Turkish PAC, the TC-USA PAC joins pre-existing
nonprofit Turkish-American organization such as the Turkish Coalition
of America, or TCA, the Assembly of Turkish American Associations,
or ATAA, the Federation of Turkish American Associations, or FTAA,
the American Turkish Society, or ATS, the American Turkish Council
and other local Turkish American associations in advocating for Turkey
in the U.S.
About the TC-USA PAC
TC-USA PAC was established in February 2007 by citizens of both
Turkish and non-Turkish heritage to support political candidates
who are committed to engaging in a meaningful dialogue with Turkish
Americans on major issues affecting their lives; maintaining a strong
U.S.-Turkish relationship; and advocating a balanced discussion on
the global and regional issues that impact Turkey and U.S.-Turkish
relations.
The TC-USA PAC is also active in encouraging Turkish Americans to
participate in the U.S. political process, including running for
public office.