The following letter was sent to Massachusetts Town Officials by the MMA
September 12, 2007
Dear Local Official,
Your community has been one of about 60 cities and towns across the state to participate in the successful No Place For Hate program, engaging in important initiatives to fight hatred, racism, ethnic and religious discrimination, and promote tolerance, understanding and reconciliation. Your commitment to this important community-building work has made a difference at home, and throughout the state.
Over the past several weeks a very visible controversy involving the National Office of the Anti-Defamation League and many in the Armenian Community has arisen over the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide initiated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and support for a related Resolution proposed before the U.S. House and Senate. This matter has affected the perception of the NPFH program because the ADL is the operating and sustaining partner for the program. Certainly, it is our hope that this matter will be resolved in a way that will bring all parties together, and enable NPFH to continue and flourish, from today into the future.
The MMA has issued a strong and unequivocal statement on the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and supporting passage of the Congressional Resolution. We applaud the Executive Committee of the New England Region of the ADL for taking this position, and the MMA has called on the national ADL organization to do the same. We will continue to review and monitor this matter, recognizing that while progress has been made, we will subsequently re¬evaluate our official sponsorship of NPFH after the national ADL determines whether to adopt this position.
A copy of the MMA’s complete statement is enclosed, and we hope you find this information helpful.
Again, thank you very much for your strong record of community-building.
Sincerely,
Geoff Beckwith Executive Director
Whereas the Massachusetts Municipal Association believes deeply that in order to build and nurture strong and vibrant communities throughout the Commonwealth and our nation, it is essential that all people strive to promote and protect basic human rights, understanding and reconciliation; and
Whereas this applies to both historical and present day events, as each affects and guides the future;
Therefore the Massachusetts Municipal Association hereby resolves the following:
• The tragic events and horrible crimes against humanity initiated against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 must be recognized by all as a genocide;
• The MMA applauds and supports the position of the New England Regional Director and New England Regional Executive Committee of the ADL for their leadership in calling for the unequivocal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and support for the Congressional Resolution before the U.S. House and Senate;
• The MMA partnered with the New England Region of the ADL as a founding sponsor of the NPFH Program because of the region’s demonstrated expertise and commitment as a human rights organization that provides high-quality community-based programs that unite people;
• The MMA applauds the success of the No Place For Hate (NPFH) Program in 60 communities in Massachusetts, and expresses its desire that the program and its good work promoting tolerance, understanding and reconciliation, fighting hatred, racism, ethnic and religious discrimination, and engaging in both community-building and pro-active efforts to protect all members of the community, will be able to continue and flourish;
• The MMA recognizes and appreciates the national ADL’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the reinstatement of the New England Regional Director, a respected, dedicated, compassionate and skilled leader and partner in community-based work, yet sees these as steps in addressing the issues that have been raised during the past month, not final actions;
• The MMA respectfully calls on the national ADL to support the Congressional Resolution as an essential act to heal and bring all parties together; and
• The MMA will continue to review and monitor this matter, guided by the wishes and policies of our members and the participating communities, recognizing that while progress has been made, the MMA will subsequently re-evaluate its official sponsorship of the No Place For Hate program after the national ADL determines whether to adopt the position taken by the Executive Committee of the New England Region.
MMA Board of Directors on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
MMA Letter and Statement on ADL and the Armenian Genocide
MMA Statement on the Importance of Recognizing the Armenian Genocide and Supporting the Congressional Resolution to Officially Recognize the Armenian Genocide
