From: Assembly <[email protected]>
Subject: AAA: Assembly Joins in Launch of New Anti-Genocide Coalition
Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY JOINS IN LAUNCH OF NEW ANTI-GENOCIDE COALITION
Group Committed To Raising Awareness of Past, Current Crimes
Boston, MA – kNOw GENOCIDE, a new multi-ethnic coalition united
against genocide denial, was publicly launched on April 21 with the
strong backing of the Armenian Assembly during a rally outside the
Massachusetts State House. The anti-genocide coalition was announced
following a commemoration ceremony marking the 91st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.
“As the Armenian community marks the anniversary of these horrific
crimes, we are honored to be part of this non-partisan coalition and
help raise awareness of other instances of genocide,” said Assembly
Board of Trustees Member Anthony Barsamian, who assisted in bringing
the coalition together. “By doing so, we forever advance the cause of
genocide prevention.”
Friday’s event included presentations by Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, Chairman
of the Jewish Community Relations Council Holocaust Committee, Jean
Nganji from Rwanda Outlook, Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, Attorney
General Tom Reilly and Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA).
Earlier that day, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts presented a
distinguished award to Dr. Taner Akcam for his outstanding work in
human rights and fighting genocide denial. The award was presented by
Lt. Governor Healey and State Senator Steven Tolman (D-Boston) before
a crowd of over 400 people in the Massachusetts House of
Representatives Chamber.
“Professor Akcam is being honored today for his innovative scholarly
research into the history and sociology of the Armenian Genocide, his
willingness to confront and debunk the deniers of the genocide and
their historical revisionism and his inexhaustible energy in
struggling for universal human rights and dignity,” said Tolman.
The Assembly is a founding member of kNOw GENOCIDE, which was created
to counter the ongoing denial of known cases of genocide, such as the
Darfur, Cambodian, Jewish, Rwanda, 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 truth it will counter and expose attempts at
genocide denial.
In addition to the Assembly, the coalition includes the Armenian
National Committees of Massachusetts, the Cambodian Mutual Assistance
Association, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark
University, the Genocide Intervention Network, the Irish Immigration
Center, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Massachusetts
Council of Churches, Rwanda Outlook and the University of Minnesota
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Then Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremony was organized by State
Representatives Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown) and Peter Koutoujian
(D-Watertown) and State Senator Steven Tolman (D-Boston).
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-036