Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter
407 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
[email protected]
818 243 3444
Glendale ANC Efforts Prompt Glendale Unified School District to
Postpone ADL Seminar at Hoover High School
December 4, 2007
Glendale, CA – In the wake of an outpouring of community concerns –
and a formal protest by the Armenian National Committee – Glendale
chapter – the Glendale Unified School District announced yesterday
that a three-day seminar that was to be conducted by the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at Herbert Hoover High has been postponed
due to the sponsor’s opposition to Congressional legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
"The Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter welcomes this step
by the Glendale Unified School District Administration to postpone
this seminar until parents, teachers and students have a chance to
carefully consider the implications of having the ADL – a group that
is working with Turkey to prevent the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide – teaching our schoolchildren about tolerance and human
rights." Said ANC-Glendale Chapter, Executive Director, Elen
Asatryan.
The seminar, which was to be on the topic of "A World of Difference,"
is billed as an education and diversity training resource program that
seeks to help participants explore prejudice and bigotry, examine
diverse viewpoints, and combat racism.
Upon learning of the seminar from concerned parents, ANC-Glendale
Chapter contacted the GUSD board members and district officials to
voice concerns about the mixed message that an ADL program would send
students about tolerance, and diversity, and human rights. After
investigating the issue, GUSD postponed the scheduled seminar.
The ADL has been embroiled in a national controversy over its vocal
opposition to the Armenian Genocide resolution in the United States
Congress. ADL National Director Abraham Foxman has publicly labeled
the Armenian Genocide resolution as "counterproductive" and has
followed Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in calling for joint
commissions to be established regarding the genocide. In response,
numerous New England towns have disassociated theselves from the ADL’s
"No Place for Hate" (NPFH) program, citing the fact that the ADL
cannot, on the one hand, stand for human rights, and, on the other,
defend the genocide denial campaign of the Turkish government.
"It’s unfortunate that an organization that professes tolerance and
truth won’t support the truth and facts of the Armenian Genocide.
They are hiding behind Turkish denials and its my hope that they would
support not only this [Armenian Genocide] resolution, but support the
true recognition of the Armenian Genocide," noted GUSD Board
President, Greg Krikorian. "Once this happens, we’d be more than happy
to welcome them to our district, where they can help educate our
students of tolerance and working together as a community, but it
troubles me that an organization can’t be true to themselves," added
Krikorian.
The Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter advocates for the
social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s
Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American
civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels. It is
the voice of this vibrant community, which seeks to advance and enrich
Glendale.