Bedford Violence Prevention Coalition Demands Explanation from ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
The Armenian Weekly
September 4, 2007
BEDFORD, Mass. (A.W.)’On Sept. 4 at 7:30 a.m., the Bedford Violence
Prevention Coalition (VPC)held its monthly meeting at the First Church
of Christ Congregational with members of the Bedford Armenian
community and activists from neighboring towns. The committee
discussed the ADL’s ambiguous position on the Armenian genocide and
decided to officially demand an explanation from the ADL. The
committee agreed that it would then proceed accordingly, yet
maintained that severing its ties with the ADL was still very much on
the table.
During the meeting, members of the committee were briefed on the
recent developments in the controversy surrounding the ADL. Armenian
activists were then given the floor to speak.
Armenian Activists
Bedford resident Stephen Dulgarian spoke about the ADL’s opposition to
the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S. Congress and expressed
his hope that Bedford would follow in the footsteps of Watertown,
Newton and Newburyport by sending a strong message to the ADL. `We ask
this committee to send a letter to the ADL demanding the unambiguous
recognition for the Armenian genocide and support for the Genocide
Resolution,’ he said.
`I just lost a great uncle who was a survivor of the Armenian
genocide,’ said Bedford resident Mike Bahtiarian. He went on to
criticize the ADL’s position on the genocide, underlining how its use
of expressions like `tantamount to genocide’ were deliberately
unclear. Not supporting genocide recognition, he said, is `like not
recognizing [the Holocaust during] World War II.’
`We would like to see this No Place for Hate committee continue its
work independently of the ADL,’ said activist Berge Jololian. `The ADL
has lost its moral authority to lecture us on human rights. Denying
any genocide is an act of hate and this community should have zero
tolerance to it.’ He noted that statement after statement, the ADL’s
`hypocrisy is multiplying.’ He rejected the ADL’s talk of a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to look into the history of 1915. `It is
like saying that Elie Wiesel and David Irving should sit and discuss
the history of the Holocaust. It’s outrageous!’ he exclaimed.
Talking about ADL national director Abraham Foxman, Jololian said,
`ADL has not apologized to the Armenian community or addressed any
Armenian, however, Foxman offered an apology to the Turkish government
for ADL’s statement recognizing the Armenian genocide.’ Jololian was
referring to a letter Foxman sent to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in
which he said, `I feel deeply sorry over discussions that erupted
after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) changed its stance on the
incidents of 1915.’
Petitto Devaney
Watertown councilor-at-large Marilyn Petitto Devaney spoke about the
proclamation she introduced at the Watertown Town Council meeting. `I
look at the proclamation as an act of lighting a candle instead of
cursing the darkness,’ she said. Pettito Devaney recounted how the ADL
had asked the Watertown Town Council for 90 days before making a
decision about severing ties with the No Place for Hate program. `I
wouldn’t even give them 90 seconds,’ she said. Underlining that the
Armenian genocide is not merely an Armenian issue, Petitto Devaney
called on Bedford to sever its ties with the NPFH.
Police Chief
Police chief James Hicks said that long before coming to Bedford, he
had worked with the ADL on several programs. `This summer has been
quite eye-opening,’ he said. `I feel embarrassed.’
`If the facts are facts, the ADL should state the facts clearly and
back its statement with words and actions,’ Hicks noted. `I have some
serious reservations with the ADL. They need to explain their
position,’ he added.
Hicks and other members of the VPC noted that their committee was
functioning years before its association with the NPFH and that good
work can be done with’and if need be without’that association.
`We have some serious concerns and I would like to have the ADL here
before taking action,’ Hicks said. `But I have to say,’ he added, `the
present state of affairs jeopardizes NPFH’s position.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
