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PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
Adrin Nazarian Chief of Staff
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]
August 14, 2008
(818) 240-6330
Assemblyman Krekorian Condemns Congressman for Anti-Armenian Statements
GLENDALE-California Assemblyman Paul Krekorian strongly condemned a US
Congressman from Tennessee who attacked an Armenian journalist and made
bigoted anti-Armenian statements last week.
Congressman Steven Cohen, one of the most strident opponents of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, is seeking reelection to represent
a district in Memphis, Tennessee. On the eve of his Democratic primary
election last week, Cohen conducted a press conference that was attended
by Armenian-American journalist Peter Musurlian. In a bizarre incident
that was covered by the local television news, Cohen physically
assaulted Musurlian and forced him out of the press conference. Cohen
went on to justify his outrageous conduct by referring to Armenians as
assassins and murderers.
Assemblymember Krekorian, who represents the largest Armenian community
in the United States, was outraged by the inexcusable behavior of the
Congressman. In a strongly worded letter to Cohen, Krekorian demanded a
formal apology to the Armenian people. (A complete copy of Krekorian's
letter is attached). Krekorian has also asked the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to investigate possible disciplinary
actions that can be taken against Cohen for this misconduct.
"I cannot tolerate this kind of bigoted slander against the Armenian
people from anyone, and especially not from a member of Congress,"
Krekorian said. "I'm deeply disappointed that a man with such
intolerant and ignorant views will be returning to Congress for another
term."
Television reports about Cohen's behavior can be seen at
http://www.myfoxhamptonroads.com/myfox/pages/Ne ws/Politics/Detail?conten
tId=3D7150474&versio n=3D1&locale=3DEN-US&layoutCode=3DVSTY& ;pageId=3D3.14.1
###
ASSEMBLYMEMBER KREKORIAN'S LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN COHEN
August 11, 2008
Congressman Steve Cohen
1004 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4209
Dear Congressman Cohen:
As a member of the California State Legislature, I have the privilege of
representing the largest Armenian community in the world outside
Armenia. I am also an American of Armenian descent. As such, I must
tell you how disgusted and infuriated I was as I viewed your recent
bigoted tirade against Armenians - which I consider to be an attack
against me, my family, and the millions of good and decent and patriotic
Americans who share our ancestry. Frankly, your actions and words were
a disgrace and an embarrassment to the Congress and to our Party.
The journalist whom you physically attacked and forced out of your press
conference, and to whom you referred as "the Armenian guy" and a "yahoo
from Glendale, California" was Peter Musurlian, one of my constituents.
He is a well known, Emmy-nominated journalist and filmmaker who is
admired and respected by Armenians and non-Armenians alike in our area.
I would have been outraged by your inexcusable behavior toward my
constituent under any circumstances, but the fact that you tried to
justify your misconduct to the media by spewing hateful, slanderous and
racist invective makes the matter much more serious.
I've been in very tough campaigns myself, and I can sympathize with a
candidate who might temporarily lose emotional control in the heat of
the battle. What I cannot understand is how any member of the United
States Congress, and especially one claiming to be a Democrat, can make
the outrageous statement that you made to the press last week:
"...there have been Armenians who have assassinated and killed many
people, including people in this country in Los Angeles in the '70s and
'80s, and so I don't rest very comfortable with one of those fellows
coming into my home. . . .I don't want these people in my home."
Given your fear of people of my ethnic background, I can only imagine
you must be downright terrified when you go to work at the Capitol and
find yourself having to deal with potentially murderous colleagues like
Armenian-American Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.
Sir, I don't know any assassins or killers, but I know thousands of
hard-working, patriotic American citizens who are of Armenian ancestry
whom you gravely insulted with your remarks. Some of these Armenians
serve our country proudly and bravely in our Armed Forces - people like
my constituent Carla Stewart, an Armenian-American woman who was killed
in action in Iraq; and like my dad, who fought in the Battle of Okinawa
with the US Marines; and yes, like Peter Musurlian - the man you
assaulted for merely filming you at a press conference - who is a US
Army veteran who served our country in Bosnia and Croatia.
There are about two million Armenian-Americans who contribute
significantly to the great fabric of this country in countless other
ways every day. Is it too much to ask that a member of the United
States Congress not slander us all as potential terrorists and
murderers?
On behalf of all Armenian-Americans, and in fact on behalf of Americans
of every background who care about living in a society of tolerance and
who reject bigotry, I demand that you make a full and public apology for
your sickening conduct.
Very truly yours,
PAUL KREKORIAN
Assemblymember, 43rd District
###
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
Adrin Nazarian Chief of Staff
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]
August 14, 2008
(818) 240-6330
Assemblyman Krekorian Condemns Congressman for Anti-Armenian Statements
GLENDALE-California Assemblyman Paul Krekorian strongly condemned a US
Congressman from Tennessee who attacked an Armenian journalist and made
bigoted anti-Armenian statements last week.
Congressman Steven Cohen, one of the most strident opponents of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, is seeking reelection to represent
a district in Memphis, Tennessee. On the eve of his Democratic primary
election last week, Cohen conducted a press conference that was attended
by Armenian-American journalist Peter Musurlian. In a bizarre incident
that was covered by the local television news, Cohen physically
assaulted Musurlian and forced him out of the press conference. Cohen
went on to justify his outrageous conduct by referring to Armenians as
assassins and murderers.
Assemblymember Krekorian, who represents the largest Armenian community
in the United States, was outraged by the inexcusable behavior of the
Congressman. In a strongly worded letter to Cohen, Krekorian demanded a
formal apology to the Armenian people. (A complete copy of Krekorian's
letter is attached). Krekorian has also asked the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to investigate possible disciplinary
actions that can be taken against Cohen for this misconduct.
"I cannot tolerate this kind of bigoted slander against the Armenian
people from anyone, and especially not from a member of Congress,"
Krekorian said. "I'm deeply disappointed that a man with such
intolerant and ignorant views will be returning to Congress for another
term."
Television reports about Cohen's behavior can be seen at
http://www.myfoxhamptonroads.com/myfox/pages/Ne ws/Politics/Detail?conten
tId=3D7150474&versio n=3D1&locale=3DEN-US&layoutCode=3DVSTY& ;pageId=3D3.14.1
###
ASSEMBLYMEMBER KREKORIAN'S LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN COHEN
August 11, 2008
Congressman Steve Cohen
1004 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4209
Dear Congressman Cohen:
As a member of the California State Legislature, I have the privilege of
representing the largest Armenian community in the world outside
Armenia. I am also an American of Armenian descent. As such, I must
tell you how disgusted and infuriated I was as I viewed your recent
bigoted tirade against Armenians - which I consider to be an attack
against me, my family, and the millions of good and decent and patriotic
Americans who share our ancestry. Frankly, your actions and words were
a disgrace and an embarrassment to the Congress and to our Party.
The journalist whom you physically attacked and forced out of your press
conference, and to whom you referred as "the Armenian guy" and a "yahoo
from Glendale, California" was Peter Musurlian, one of my constituents.
He is a well known, Emmy-nominated journalist and filmmaker who is
admired and respected by Armenians and non-Armenians alike in our area.
I would have been outraged by your inexcusable behavior toward my
constituent under any circumstances, but the fact that you tried to
justify your misconduct to the media by spewing hateful, slanderous and
racist invective makes the matter much more serious.
I've been in very tough campaigns myself, and I can sympathize with a
candidate who might temporarily lose emotional control in the heat of
the battle. What I cannot understand is how any member of the United
States Congress, and especially one claiming to be a Democrat, can make
the outrageous statement that you made to the press last week:
"...there have been Armenians who have assassinated and killed many
people, including people in this country in Los Angeles in the '70s and
'80s, and so I don't rest very comfortable with one of those fellows
coming into my home. . . .I don't want these people in my home."
Given your fear of people of my ethnic background, I can only imagine
you must be downright terrified when you go to work at the Capitol and
find yourself having to deal with potentially murderous colleagues like
Armenian-American Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.
Sir, I don't know any assassins or killers, but I know thousands of
hard-working, patriotic American citizens who are of Armenian ancestry
whom you gravely insulted with your remarks. Some of these Armenians
serve our country proudly and bravely in our Armed Forces - people like
my constituent Carla Stewart, an Armenian-American woman who was killed
in action in Iraq; and like my dad, who fought in the Battle of Okinawa
with the US Marines; and yes, like Peter Musurlian - the man you
assaulted for merely filming you at a press conference - who is a US
Army veteran who served our country in Bosnia and Croatia.
There are about two million Armenian-Americans who contribute
significantly to the great fabric of this country in countless other
ways every day. Is it too much to ask that a member of the United
States Congress not slander us all as potential terrorists and
murderers?
On behalf of all Armenian-Americans, and in fact on behalf of Americans
of every background who care about living in a society of tolerance and
who reject bigotry, I demand that you make a full and public apology for
your sickening conduct.
Very truly yours,
PAUL KREKORIAN
Assemblymember, 43rd District
###