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RALLY CALLS FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Stacy Welkowitz
Daily Free Press , MA
April 24 2006
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) speaks at the launch of
the new coalition kNOw Genocide on Friday afternoon.
Calling for Massachusetts residents to formally recognize genocide,
approximately 175 people gathered in front of the Statehouse Friday
afternoon to witness the launch of a new coalition, kNOw Genocide,
following an assembly in the House Chamber for Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Day in honor of those who died in the Armenian genocide
of 1915.
According to their website, kNOw Genocide is a group founded in
opposition to those who deny cases of genocide, calling denial a
crime in itself. The group also organized the support of 12 coalition
members, including the Armenian Assembly of America, Irish Immigration,
the Jewish Community Relations Council, Rwanda Outlook and Genocide
Intervention Network.
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said politicians today and throughout
history have neglected to recognize the events of 1915, calling upon
President George W. Bush to publicly acknowledge the Armenian as
well as present-day genocide. Although President Woodrow Wilson's
administration condemned the Armenia genocide as it was occurring,
Markey said Bush has not publicly called for the Turkish government
to label the 1915 atrocities as "genocide."
"It is time, President Bush, for you to stand up and to say that there
was a genocide that occurred in Armenia," Markey said. "It is time,
President Bush, for you to stand up and to do something about the
genocide in Darfur."
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, Attorney General Thomas Reilly and Sen. Steven
Tolman (D-Boston) all publicly pledged their support for the new
coalition. As the grandson of Armenian genocide survivors, Rep. Peter
Koutoujian (D-Newton) with Rep. Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown) --
the granddaughter of Armenian genocide survivors -- and Tolman will
file "landmark" legislation calling for Massachusetts to divest
in companies that have holdings in Sudan where the Janjaweed, a
government-sponsored militia, have been massacring residents of the
Darfur region since 2003. In September 2004, the State Department
labeled the massacre in Darfur as "genocide."
"This piece of legislation would force our divestment in business
interests in Sudan and anywhere else where genocide occurs, even if
it forces us to bury our heads in our hands," Koutoujian said. "It
is first in the nation and I hope and believe it will become a model
for every other state in this nation and for this nation itself to
model itself after it."
Stacy Welkowitz
Daily Free Press , MA
April 24 2006
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) speaks at the launch of
the new coalition kNOw Genocide on Friday afternoon.
Calling for Massachusetts residents to formally recognize genocide,
approximately 175 people gathered in front of the Statehouse Friday
afternoon to witness the launch of a new coalition, kNOw Genocide,
following an assembly in the House Chamber for Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Day in honor of those who died in the Armenian genocide
of 1915.
According to their website, kNOw Genocide is a group founded in
opposition to those who deny cases of genocide, calling denial a
crime in itself. The group also organized the support of 12 coalition
members, including the Armenian Assembly of America, Irish Immigration,
the Jewish Community Relations Council, Rwanda Outlook and Genocide
Intervention Network.
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said politicians today and throughout
history have neglected to recognize the events of 1915, calling upon
President George W. Bush to publicly acknowledge the Armenian as
well as present-day genocide. Although President Woodrow Wilson's
administration condemned the Armenia genocide as it was occurring,
Markey said Bush has not publicly called for the Turkish government
to label the 1915 atrocities as "genocide."
"It is time, President Bush, for you to stand up and to say that there
was a genocide that occurred in Armenia," Markey said. "It is time,
President Bush, for you to stand up and to do something about the
genocide in Darfur."
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, Attorney General Thomas Reilly and Sen. Steven
Tolman (D-Boston) all publicly pledged their support for the new
coalition. As the grandson of Armenian genocide survivors, Rep. Peter
Koutoujian (D-Newton) with Rep. Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown) --
the granddaughter of Armenian genocide survivors -- and Tolman will
file "landmark" legislation calling for Massachusetts to divest
in companies that have holdings in Sudan where the Janjaweed, a
government-sponsored militia, have been massacring residents of the
Darfur region since 2003. In September 2004, the State Department
labeled the massacre in Darfur as "genocide."
"This piece of legislation would force our divestment in business
interests in Sudan and anywhere else where genocide occurs, even if
it forces us to bury our heads in our hands," Koutoujian said. "It
is first in the nation and I hope and believe it will become a model
for every other state in this nation and for this nation itself to
model itself after it."