ANCEM PRESS RELEASE
September 18, 2007
Belmont, MA -- The Town of Belmont, Massachusetts voted unanimously last night to sever ties with No Place for Hate and its sponsoring organization the Anti Defamation League (ADL), at the request of the Belmont Human Rights Commission (BHRC) and following the BHRC’s September 6th decision to unanimously call on the Board of Selectmen to sever ties with the ADL, citing their ongoing opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition, reported the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts (ANCEM.)
The action by the Belmont Selectmen follows action by Watertown, Arlington, and Newton, which have also ended their involvement with the ADL-sponsored program.
“We applaud the town of Belmont for standing up for truth and human dignity by rejecting ties with the ADL - an organization which has sadly disqualified itself as an effective spokesman for tolerance education through its position on the Armenian Genocide,” stated ANCEM spokesperson Dr. Aram Kaligian. “Chairman Firenze and Selectmen Solomon and Leclerk sent a strong message to the ADL and to any other organization that puts politics above human rights,” continued Kaligian.
BHRC Chairwoman Laurie Graham presented the Commission’s findings to the
Selectmen at the Monday evening town hall meeting, which attracted over 100 local residents of Armenian, Jewish and diverse backgrounds. Graham stated that “although No Place for Hate in, and of itself, is a positive program with a commendable mission statement, we cannot justify supporting it if the program’s creator and sponsor, the ADL, continues to support what we regard as genocide denial.”
Graham emphasized that the “tip of the pyramid of hatred” is genocide. In the BHRC letter to the ADL (see below) Graham asked, “How can we, in good faith, ask our community to work at the base of this same pyramid while the No Place for Hate sponsor is actively working against congressional, international recognition of the Armenian genocide?”
The Board of Selectmen decided to break the BHRC’s recommendation into two parts: the first, unconditionally severing ties with the ADL, was passed unanimously; however, the second part, asking the ADL to support HR106 as a condition for reinstatement was defeated 2-1, despite vocal support for the measure.
Selectman Paul Solomon spoke adamantly about the importance of urging support for Congressional Armenian Genocide reaffirmation. “This is where it all starts; this is what the grassroots is all about. If we have enough communities petitioning not only the Congress but representatives of national organizations, they will listen,” explained Solomon. “That’s why I would not be in favor of deleting the last part of the statement [asking ADL to support H.Res.106]. I strongly urge that my colleagues go along with it.”
Two of the Selectmen, Chairman Angelo Firenze and Selectman Dan Leclerc, disagreed. Leclerc said that he wasn't elected to comment on "our senators' and congressmen's jobs." "It's above my pay-grade, so to speak," he said.
In its initial letter to the ADL, the BHRC was emphatic in its support for the Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution stating that “until there is a radical change in position and reversal in action on this issue at the ADL national leadership level, we as a commission, cannot participate in a program that is registered in its name.”
For complete information about the Abe Foxman / ADL controversy surrounding the Armenian Genocide visit www.noplacefordenial.com
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Letter to ADL by Belmont Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission of the Town of Belmont unanimously voted on
Tuesday, September 6, 2007, to recommend to the town’s Board of Selectmen, that Belmont withdraw from No Place for Hate®, a program that has constructively engaged this community for two years.
Although No Place for Hate® in, and of itself, is a positive program with a commendable mission statement, we cannot justify supporting it if the program’s creator and sponsor, the ADL, continues to support what we regard as genocide denial.
ADL and the No Place for Hate® program emphasize that the “tip of the pyramid of hatred” is genocide. How can we, in good faith, ask our community to work at the base of this same pyramid while the No Place for Hate® sponsor is actively working against congressional, international recognition of the Armenian genocide?
We applaud Andrew Tarsy’s courage and conviction in speaking out on the issue of the Armenian genocide, our commission fully supports No Place for Hate® and has great respect for the staff who have coordinated the program.
However, until there is a radical change in position and reversal in action on this issue at the ADL national leadership level, we as a commission, cannot participate in a program that is registered in its name.
Respectfully,
Laurie Graham, Chair,
Belmont Human Rights Commission
TOWN OF BELMONT UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO SEVER TIES WITH ADL
