PRESS RELEASE
Office of MA. Rep. Rachel Kaprielian
CONTACT: Harout H. Semerdjian
Tel: 617-489-1597, 617-722-2400
April 13, 2006
BOSTON, MA – This year the commemoration of the Armenian Genocidein
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has taken an extraordinary turn
given the genocide lawsuit in our state. April 21, 2006 will mark two
important events at the Massachusetts State House. The first is the
State House Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony organized by
Representatives Rachel Kaprielian and Peter Koutoujian and Senator
Steven Tolman. It will take place at 11:00am in the Chamber of the
House of Representatives and will be followed by an informal reception
in the Great Hall of the State House.
The second event will take place outside the State House on Beacon
Street at 12:45 pm immediately following the Commemoration
Ceremony. It will mark the public inception of KNOW GENOCIDE, a new
multi-ethnic, non-partisan coalition formed to combat the ongoing
denial of known cases of genocide, such as the Darfur, Cambodian,
Jewish, Rwandan, and the Armenian genocides. The coalition is
grounded in the understanding that denial of genocide is the final
stage of that crime. For the sake of human rights as well as the
historical t ruth it will counter and expose attempts at genocide
denial.
Both events at the State House will be marked with the participation
of Dr.
Taner Akcam, the first Turkish scholar to publicly acknowledge and
discuss the Armenian Genocide. Despite facing great challenges,
Dr. Akcam has worked for many years in creating a positive and
successful dialogue between Armenians and Turks. His work regarding
the Armenian Genocide is hopefully a beginning for eventual acceptance
by Turkey of this great crime against humanity.
It is our sincere hope that this event receives a good turnout of
Armenians united against denial. Please join us at this historic
juncture in our history, as we join with this leading Turkish scholar
to acknowledge the truth and remember our martyrs.