Violence Prevention Coalition
Town of Bedford
Bedford Massachusetts 01730
November 14, 2007
TO: Bedford Selectmen
FROM: The Violence Prevention Coalition
DATE: November 6, 2007
RE: Bedford’s Participation in “No Place For Hate” program
Dear Selectmen:
As you will recall, after our meeting September 4, 2007 we sent you a letter saying that we were taking a serious look at Bedford’s participation in the ADL’s “No Place For Hate” program. We told you we were awaiting a decision by the ADL regarding the position they had taken on the Armenian Genocide resolution before Congress. We submitted this statement to you at that time:
“The stance of the ADL regarding the Armenian Genocide is contrary to the mission of the VPC. We expect the ADL to unambiguously acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and endorse the Resolution regarding it now before Congress. Unless the ADL does so, we would recommend that Bedford suspend participation in No Place for Hate.”
After their meeting in early November, the ADL posted the following notice on their website:
“ADL National Commission Decides To Take No Further Action on Armenian Genocide Issue
“New York, NY, November 2, 2007 … The National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today, at its annual meeting, decided to take no further action on the issue of the Armenian genocide.”
Clearly we were hoping for a different response from the National ADL. We believe that their position on this issue is in conflict with the basic values of the ADL’s own mission statement which reads,
"The immediate object of the League is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens."
ADL Charter
October 1913
After due and thoughtful consideration, the Violence Prevention Coalition now recommends that Bedford suspend its participation in the ADL program. We believe that the ADL’s position has undermined its own program. We believe that organizations and communities cannot pick and choose when to be “No Place for Hate” and when not to be. We see this as an opportunity to demonstrate a non-violent response to an action that we find in conflict with our values.
We have chosen the word “suspend” carefully; we want to leave open the door for hope that we might be able to reverse this decision at some future time. By suspend we mean that we will not at this time post the signs and symbols of the No Place for Hate program nor will we accept program money or be an active participant in that program.
The Violence Prevention Coalition was established in 1997. We were first designated a “No Place for Hate” community in 2002. We served Bedford with programs before that designation and we will continue to do this work. We are committed to our mission that reads, “We believe that all forms of violence are unacceptable and that community life requires nonviolent resolution of conflict.” We will continue to focus on our goal “of being proactive in stemming the tide of violence through education, resource identification, referral networking, and direct assistance, where appropriate, and in general creating an atmosphere for peaceful resolution of conflict.”
Respectfully,
The Violence Prevention Coalition
Jim Hicks, Bedford Police
Cathy Cordes, Bedford Selectman
Carolyn Bottum, Bedford Council on Aging
Sue Baldauf, Bedford Youth and Family Services
Linda Christen, First Church/Bedford High School Parents Association
Schwanna Collins, Hansom Air Force Base
Lois Pulliam, Human Relations Council
Carolyn Colonero, Congregational Church, Councilor-at-large
Frank Fornaro, St. Paul's Episcopal Church
John Gibbons and Maud Robinson, First Parish Unitarian Universalist
Nancy Asbedian, Network for Women’s Lives
Renee Anderson, John Glenn Middle SchoolJacquelin Apsler Domestic Violence Services/DVVAP
Letter from Bedford Violence Prevention Coalition to Bedford Selectmen Regarding Bedford’s Participation in “No Place For Hate” Program
