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CALIF. ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES GENOCIDE CURRICULUM BILL
http://asbarez.com/118993/calif-assembly-unanimously-approves-genocide-curriculum-bill/
Wednesday, January 29th, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks on AB 659
SACRAMENTO-- Despite heavy opposition by pro-Turkey lobbying groups,
the California State Assembly voted unanimously, today, to pass
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian's bill, AB 659, encouraging schools to
use oral histories when teaching about the Armenian Genocide. AB 659
will now move on to State Senate for consideration.
"The unanimous passage of AB 659 sends a strong message that
California officials cannot be bought or bullied into denying truth and
justice. The ANCA WR commends Assemblymembers Nazarian and Achadjian
for spearheading through this important genocide education legislation
and looks forward to working with them in garnering similar support
in the State Senate," stated Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of
the ANCA-WR.
"AB 659 has enjoyed overwhelming support from my colleagues in
the Assembly," commented Assemblymember Nazarian, following the
vote. "I look forward to continuing to work with the ANCA-WR to
garner support from our counterparts in the Senate. The personal
testimonies of Genocide survivors will give educators a powerful tool
to engage students in the subject matter in ways they have never been
taught before. If we expect to stop the genocides of the future,
it is important that we strengthen the teaching mechanisms on past
genocides," he continued.
Joining Nazarian as co-authors AB 659 were State Senator Mark Wyland
(R) and Assemblymembers Katcho Achadjian (R), Steve Fox (D), Mike Gatto
(D), Scott Wilk (R), and Cheryl Brown (D). Other members of the State
Assembly who spoke in support of the measure during the floor session
today were Assemblymembers Tim Donnelly (R) and Diane Harkey (R).
Assemblymember Achadjian, principal co-author on AB 659, worked closely
with his Republican colleagues to secure broad bipartisan support
for the measure, noted, "I am proud to be a principal co-author of
AB 659. Part of ensuring a better world for our children includes
educating them about the past. We must take the initiative to recognize
such tragic acts of violence in order to prevent such events from
happening again. It encourages teachers to educate our students on
the Armenian Genocide."
Earlier this month, AB 659 was unanimously adopted by the State
Assembly Education and Appropriations Committees. Education Committee
Chairwoman Joan Buchanan explained, "It is important for California
students to understand and learn from the lessons of history, including
the atrocities of genocide around the world. I am proud to support
AB 659, which encourages schools to include the Armenian genocide in
our history courses."
In the weeks leading up to State Assembly consideration of the
measure, the ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to
ensure they learned of the Armenian American community's enthusiastic
support for the measure. "Grassroots efforts are critical for the
success of such legislation, particularly in light of the increasingly
aggressive lobbying campaigns which are being mounted by Turkey and
Azerbaijan. In these times, it is especially important to activate our
grassroots, because while we may be outspent by our adversaries, active
participation by our community makes a difference," added Asatryan.
Once adopted by the State Senate and signed into law by the Governor,
AB 659 would encourage the incorporation of oral testimony and teacher
training, such that the Genocide may be more comprehensively taught
in California's public schools.
The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), a non-profit organization
based in San Francisco which has developed model resources for high
school teachers regarding the Armenian Genocides, hailed the measure.
"With the proper materials and training, teachers can incorporate
the Armenian Genocide into their social studies curriculum in a
meaningful way," said Roxanne Makasdjian of The Genocide Education
Project. "This resolution reminds education administrators across the
state of California's commitment to the inclusion of the Armenian
Genocide as an essential part of its courses on world history,
genocide, and human rights."
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2014/01/1526655_10151901670273201_1583553710_n.jpg
http://asbarez.com/118993/calif-assembly-unanimously-approves-genocide-curriculum-bill/
Wednesday, January 29th, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks on AB 659
SACRAMENTO-- Despite heavy opposition by pro-Turkey lobbying groups,
the California State Assembly voted unanimously, today, to pass
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian's bill, AB 659, encouraging schools to
use oral histories when teaching about the Armenian Genocide. AB 659
will now move on to State Senate for consideration.
"The unanimous passage of AB 659 sends a strong message that
California officials cannot be bought or bullied into denying truth and
justice. The ANCA WR commends Assemblymembers Nazarian and Achadjian
for spearheading through this important genocide education legislation
and looks forward to working with them in garnering similar support
in the State Senate," stated Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of
the ANCA-WR.
"AB 659 has enjoyed overwhelming support from my colleagues in
the Assembly," commented Assemblymember Nazarian, following the
vote. "I look forward to continuing to work with the ANCA-WR to
garner support from our counterparts in the Senate. The personal
testimonies of Genocide survivors will give educators a powerful tool
to engage students in the subject matter in ways they have never been
taught before. If we expect to stop the genocides of the future,
it is important that we strengthen the teaching mechanisms on past
genocides," he continued.
Joining Nazarian as co-authors AB 659 were State Senator Mark Wyland
(R) and Assemblymembers Katcho Achadjian (R), Steve Fox (D), Mike Gatto
(D), Scott Wilk (R), and Cheryl Brown (D). Other members of the State
Assembly who spoke in support of the measure during the floor session
today were Assemblymembers Tim Donnelly (R) and Diane Harkey (R).
Assemblymember Achadjian, principal co-author on AB 659, worked closely
with his Republican colleagues to secure broad bipartisan support
for the measure, noted, "I am proud to be a principal co-author of
AB 659. Part of ensuring a better world for our children includes
educating them about the past. We must take the initiative to recognize
such tragic acts of violence in order to prevent such events from
happening again. It encourages teachers to educate our students on
the Armenian Genocide."
Earlier this month, AB 659 was unanimously adopted by the State
Assembly Education and Appropriations Committees. Education Committee
Chairwoman Joan Buchanan explained, "It is important for California
students to understand and learn from the lessons of history, including
the atrocities of genocide around the world. I am proud to support
AB 659, which encourages schools to include the Armenian genocide in
our history courses."
In the weeks leading up to State Assembly consideration of the
measure, the ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to
ensure they learned of the Armenian American community's enthusiastic
support for the measure. "Grassroots efforts are critical for the
success of such legislation, particularly in light of the increasingly
aggressive lobbying campaigns which are being mounted by Turkey and
Azerbaijan. In these times, it is especially important to activate our
grassroots, because while we may be outspent by our adversaries, active
participation by our community makes a difference," added Asatryan.
Once adopted by the State Senate and signed into law by the Governor,
AB 659 would encourage the incorporation of oral testimony and teacher
training, such that the Genocide may be more comprehensively taught
in California's public schools.
The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), a non-profit organization
based in San Francisco which has developed model resources for high
school teachers regarding the Armenian Genocides, hailed the measure.
"With the proper materials and training, teachers can incorporate
the Armenian Genocide into their social studies curriculum in a
meaningful way," said Roxanne Makasdjian of The Genocide Education
Project. "This resolution reminds education administrators across the
state of California's commitment to the inclusion of the Armenian
Genocide as an essential part of its courses on world history,
genocide, and human rights."
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2014/01/1526655_10151901670273201_1583553710_n.jpg