Lexington, Arlington, and Westwood condemn the denial of the Armenian Genocide
ANCEM Press Release
October 17, 2007
WATERTOWN, MA—In a wave of condemnation of the denial of the Armenian Genocide just days after the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide, the Boards of Selectmen of three Massachusetts towns — Arlington, Lexington and Westwood — voted on the same day, Monday, October 15, to break ties with the Anti Defamation League (ADL) and its No Place for Hate (NPFH) program, due to the ADL’s failure to unambiguously acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts (ANCEM.)
In addition, just this evening, October 17, the Medford Human Rights Commission unanimously voted to suspend ties with the ADL. Details to follow.“Arlington, Lexington, and Westwood reaffirmed a clear message,” stated ANCEM chairperson Sharistan Melkonian. “Genocide denial, in any form, at any time, is unacceptable, no matter who engages in it.”
The action in Lexington, Arlington, and Westwood follows action by Watertown, Belmont and Newton, which have also ended their involvement with the ADL-sponsored program due to the ADL’s policy on the Armenian Genocide.
Arlington
Arlington’s Board of Selectmen met to discuss the future of ADL’s No Place for Hate program. The standing room only Selectmen’s chamber was packed with over 80 residents.
Prior to voting on the future of the town’s association with the ADL, Arlington’s Selectmen heard a report from the chair of the Human Rights Commission, Joseph Curro.
Curro presented a resolution–which had been voted on and passed at the September 19 meeting of the Human Rights Commission– recommending that the town sever its ties with the ADL’s NPFH program.
The resolution read (in part):
WHEREAS Arlington is home to many residents of Armenian descent and serves as the headquarters location of the Armenian Cultural Foundation; and
WHEREAS the national Anti-Defamation League has failed to recognize unambiguously the Armenian Genocide and has opposed efforts in Congress to do so; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the full recognition and honest discussion of past atrocities -such as the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust — are requisite to understanding and responding to contemporary genocidal crimes against humanity – such as the atrocities in Darfur — and that legislative measures such as H. Res. 106 constitute an important part of this process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Arlington Human Rights Commission does join in protest of any form of genocide denial and commits to facilitating educational activities related to genocide; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Arlington Human Rights Commission does hereby rescind its endorsement of the Town’s formal relationship with the Anti-Defamation League; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Arlington Human Rights Commission does reserve the right to review this decision should the Anti-Defamation League reconsider its position on the Armenian Genocide and H. Res. 106; and
Following Mr. Curro’s presentation, chairwoman Annie Lacourt put the matter to a vote and the Selectmen voted unanimously to sever ties with the ADL. Prior to the vote two selectwomen expressed their personal disappointment in the ADL’s current position on the Armenian Genocide and its opposition to HR 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
During the open forum portion of the meeting, longtime Arlington resident and Armenian Genocide survivor Kevork Norian mesmerized those present with a stirring speech about his family. Clutching a copy of Peter Balakian’s The Burning Tigris and with his eyes closed he recounted his family’s escape from certain death from the Cilician city of Aintab in 1920–the 2nd stage of the Armenian Genocide. He spoke of the pain of denial and the need for recognition – especially by the country that he and his family now called home. Mr. Norian concluded by calling for a round of applause to the United States and its people for having been so generous in welcoming Armenian refugees — survivors of the first genocide of the 20th century.
http://www.noplacefordenial.com/2007/10/three-more-massachusetts-towns-break.html