Letter: Why does the Mass. Municipal Association still sponsor ‘No Place for Hate’?
Feb 01, 2008
WATERTOWN - I do not understand why the Massachusetts Municipal Association board of directors has yet to cease its sponsorship of the Anti-Defamation League “No Place for Hate” program throughout the state, as many local governments have already done (beginning with Watertown in August 2007).
The MMA, of which Watertown is a member, had proclaimed in September 2007 that the ADL should end in totality its denial that the Armenian Genocide did in fact take place, and to cease the organization’s opposition to the Congressional proposal of affirmation of this genocide. The MMA further stated that if the ADL does not do so, the MMA would sever its ties with the NPFH program. Yet, the ADL, after many months, has yet to officially announce a change in its stance on this issue! The MMA says it has sponsored NPFH because it was presented as an anti-bias program, yet this platform that clearly has made the Armenian Genocide an exception, and the MMA is still sponsoring the ADL!
I am disappointed with the MMA and with those Watertown officials who have done nothing to hold the MMA accountable for its lack of follow through. Clearly, the cozy and unethical relationship between these organizations must be questioned, and demands for answers — and responsible action—must be made.
Levon Karageuzian
Duff Street
Letter: Where is the follow-through on ‘No Place for Hate’?
Feb 01, 2008
WATERTOWN - I was pleased that on Dec. 11 the Town Council asked the Massachusetts Municipal Association to fulfill its pledge of last September to sever ties with the ADL’s No Place for Hate program.
The MMA board had promised to “re-evaluate” its sponsorship of the state’s NPFH chapters unless the national ADL’s meeting in New York last November resulted in a change to ADL’s hypocritical denial of the Armenian genocide.
The ADL made no change whatsoever in its denial policy at that meeting or since then. Yet the MMA has still taken no action.
Watertown — that is, its taxpayers — gives thousands in annual dues to the MMA.
Moreover, Town Councilor Jonathan Hecht not only sits on the Executive Committee of MMA’s board, but is also vice president of the Massachusetts Municipal Councilors’ Association, itself an MMA member.
What are Mr. Hecht and the other councilors doing about the MMA? Nothing?
If this was about Holocaust denial rather than Armenian Genocide denial, we all know what the MMA would have done.
The town of Watertown and Councilor Hecht should both withdraw from the MMA unless it follows through on its pledge to sever ties with ADL.
Lily Ordoubeigian
Concord Road
Watertown Tab: Letters to the Editor Published on February 1, 2008
