ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact:
Danielle Saroyan
Telephone:
INTRODUCES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING TURKISH VIOLENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Says Brutal Attack Against Demonstrators
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) was joined by Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY),
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
in introducing House Resolution 354, a resolution condemning the violence
against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence on May
16, 2017, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) reported. The House
Resolution calls for "the perpetrators to be brought to justice."
H.Res. 354
states: "after hours of peaceful protest, violence erupted when
pro-Erdogan supporters and individuals from the Turkish Embassy grounds pushed
past District of Columbia police officers to brutally attack the
demonstrators." The Resolution expressed deep concern that "Turkish
officials blatantly suppressed the First Amendment rights of United States
citizens, and multiple armed Turkish security officials beat, kicked, and
choked unarmed demonstrators."
In addition,
the Resolution noted that the Washington Metropolitan Police Department and
other reports confirm that "the demonstrators did not instigate the
violence," and that this is the third instance of violence perpetrated in
the U.S. by members of Turkish President Erdogan's security detail.
H.Res. 354
calls for "any Turkish security officials who directed, oversaw, or
participated in efforts by Turkish security forces to illegally suppress
peaceful protests on May 16, 2017, should be charged and prosecuted under
United States law."
Taking a
strong stand against the growing trend of repressive authoritarianism in
Turkey, H.Res. 354 states that "the United States should take steps to
strengthen freedoms for the press and civil society in countries such as
Turkey, and combat efforts by foreign leaders to suppress free and peaceful
protest in their own countries."
"The
Assembly applauds Representatives Royce, Engel, McCarthy, and Hoyer and their
introduction of bipartisan legislation condemning Turkey's outrageous attack
against peaceful protesters and assault on our cherished democratic
values," Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said.
In last
week's statement, the Assembly called upon Members of Congress and the
Administration to condemn this latest affront by Turkey on basic freedoms. The
Assembly also launched a grassroots campaign to urge Members of the House and
Senate to condemn the Turkish attack and hold those who perpetrated these acts
of violence accountable.
In addition
to the House Resolution, 28 Members signed a bipartisan letter urging Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson "to speak out publicly against these actions and,
just as importantly, ensure that these men are held fully accountable for their
actions." The previous day, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Patrick
Leahy (D-VT) sent a letter to Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic, which says in
part: "We encourage local law enforcement personnel to prosecute
perpetrators of this attack to the fullest extent of the law and support the
expulsion from the United States of any diplomatic personnel involved."
Other Members have spoken out against these attacks as well.
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.
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NR#: 2017-038
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