Tweet
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
August 6, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
MEMPHIS CONGRESSMAN STEVEN COHEN SHOVES ARMENIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST
OUT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
MEMPHIS, TN - Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) today forcibly
removed Armenian American journalist Peter Musurlian from a press
conference, apparently frustrated by repeated calls to explain his
Congressional opposition to legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Apparently we need to send Congressman Cohen a copy of the first
amendment as well as the state penal code," stated ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "Physically throwing out a reporter
committed to getting the facts on his opposition to genocide
legislation, is nothing more than a high school bully tactic and is
conduct ill-befitting a Member of Congress."
Musurlian, who works for a public access TV station in Burbank,
California, in addition to running his own production company,
Globalist Films, had traveled to Memphis to document the days leading
up to the contentious August 7th Democratic primary between first-term
incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger, former civil rights lawyer, Nikki
Tinker, for LA based Horizon Armenian Television.
Following a series of unanswered interview requests filed earlier this
week, Musurlian attended several Cohen public events on Tuesday
evening, documenting his campaign activities and looking for an
opportunity to speak with the Congressman. Musurlian's efforts to
participate in a Wednesday press conference, hastily called by Cohen at
his own residence, were cut short when a volatile and clearly agitated
Cohen forcibly shoved Musurlian out the door, slamming it in
frustration. Throughout the process, Cohen made disparaging references
to Musurlian's Armenian heritage, and proudly stated his opposition to
human rights legislation commemorating the Armenian Genocide. That
resolution, H.Res.106, has over 200 Congressional cosponsors and was
adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last October. Following
Committee adoption of H.Res.106, Cohen was a leader amongst a handful
of Democratic legislators opposing full House passage of the
resolution, going so far as holding a Capitol Hill press conference
against the human rights measure.
"Genocide must be universally condemned - whenever and wherever it
occurs. Rep. Cohen's opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition today,
begs the question: Which genocide will he oppose commemorating
tomorrow?" noted Hamparian.In the weeks leading up to tomorrow's
primary, Armenian Americans in Memphis and across the U.S. joined
Emily's List and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in supporting
challenger Nikki Tinker. Tinker, in response to an ANCA Congressional
Questionnaire, pledged to support House passage of Armenian Genocide
legislation, as well as legislation to put an end to the ongoing
Genocide in Darfur. The ANCA has endorsed Tinker and encouraged
community support for the candidate, resulting in over $35,000 in
contributions, a large portion donated through
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/GKUDJBMFV M/2266599201, organized by Memphis activist Dany Beylerian.
Rep. Cohen's actions against Musurlian were the top news story
throughout Wednesday on Memphis television and radio stations. Links to
the raw footage from the Cohen shoving incident and local news coverage
are available on the ANCA website at www.anca.org .
Polls for the Congressional Democratic primary are set to open at
7:00am (Central Time) on August 7th.
#####
Additional Resources:
Watch the latest News coverage of Cohen's volatile actions against
journalist Peter Musurlian.
Memphis NBC Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/GBULJBMFV N/2266599201
Memphis NBC Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFP X/KCKHJBMFVO/2266599201
(2 videos, raw footage and story)
Memphis Fox Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX /EENQJBMFVP/2266599201
Online Print News Coverage and Blogs:
Memphis Fox Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFP X/GOHXJBMFVQ/2266599201
http://capwiz.com/anca/ut r/1/MRVIJBMFPX/NOWLJBMFVR/2266599201
The Politico Blog - Scorecard
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/ ANRRJBMFVS/2266599201/
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
August 6, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
MEMPHIS CONGRESSMAN STEVEN COHEN SHOVES ARMENIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST
OUT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
MEMPHIS, TN - Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) today forcibly
removed Armenian American journalist Peter Musurlian from a press
conference, apparently frustrated by repeated calls to explain his
Congressional opposition to legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Apparently we need to send Congressman Cohen a copy of the first
amendment as well as the state penal code," stated ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "Physically throwing out a reporter
committed to getting the facts on his opposition to genocide
legislation, is nothing more than a high school bully tactic and is
conduct ill-befitting a Member of Congress."
Musurlian, who works for a public access TV station in Burbank,
California, in addition to running his own production company,
Globalist Films, had traveled to Memphis to document the days leading
up to the contentious August 7th Democratic primary between first-term
incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger, former civil rights lawyer, Nikki
Tinker, for LA based Horizon Armenian Television.
Following a series of unanswered interview requests filed earlier this
week, Musurlian attended several Cohen public events on Tuesday
evening, documenting his campaign activities and looking for an
opportunity to speak with the Congressman. Musurlian's efforts to
participate in a Wednesday press conference, hastily called by Cohen at
his own residence, were cut short when a volatile and clearly agitated
Cohen forcibly shoved Musurlian out the door, slamming it in
frustration. Throughout the process, Cohen made disparaging references
to Musurlian's Armenian heritage, and proudly stated his opposition to
human rights legislation commemorating the Armenian Genocide. That
resolution, H.Res.106, has over 200 Congressional cosponsors and was
adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last October. Following
Committee adoption of H.Res.106, Cohen was a leader amongst a handful
of Democratic legislators opposing full House passage of the
resolution, going so far as holding a Capitol Hill press conference
against the human rights measure.
"Genocide must be universally condemned - whenever and wherever it
occurs. Rep. Cohen's opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition today,
begs the question: Which genocide will he oppose commemorating
tomorrow?" noted Hamparian.In the weeks leading up to tomorrow's
primary, Armenian Americans in Memphis and across the U.S. joined
Emily's List and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in supporting
challenger Nikki Tinker. Tinker, in response to an ANCA Congressional
Questionnaire, pledged to support House passage of Armenian Genocide
legislation, as well as legislation to put an end to the ongoing
Genocide in Darfur. The ANCA has endorsed Tinker and encouraged
community support for the candidate, resulting in over $35,000 in
contributions, a large portion donated through
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/GKUDJBMFV M/2266599201, organized by Memphis activist Dany Beylerian.
Rep. Cohen's actions against Musurlian were the top news story
throughout Wednesday on Memphis television and radio stations. Links to
the raw footage from the Cohen shoving incident and local news coverage
are available on the ANCA website at www.anca.org .
Polls for the Congressional Democratic primary are set to open at
7:00am (Central Time) on August 7th.
#####
Additional Resources:
Watch the latest News coverage of Cohen's volatile actions against
journalist Peter Musurlian.
Memphis NBC Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/GBULJBMFV N/2266599201
Memphis NBC Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFP X/KCKHJBMFVO/2266599201
(2 videos, raw footage and story)
Memphis Fox Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX /EENQJBMFVP/2266599201
Online Print News Coverage and Blogs:
Memphis Fox Affiliate:
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFP X/GOHXJBMFVQ/2266599201
http://capwiz.com/anca/ut r/1/MRVIJBMFPX/NOWLJBMFVR/2266599201
The Politico Blog - Scorecard
http://capwiz.com/anca/utr/1/MRVIJBMFPX/ ANRRJBMFVS/2266599201/