Because the ADL has yet to acknowledge unambiguously the Armenian Genocide, and moreover, has actively advocated against Congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide for several years on behalf of the Turkish government, the organization has simply disqualified itself from teaching tolerance and combating hate in our communities.
Thus, Armenian-Americans and other human rights advocates have asked cities and towns who participate in the No Place for Hate program to end their ties with the ADL. In Massachusetts, seven communities have already disassociated from the ADL. A number of municipalities in New York and Pennsylvania have also received requests for severance. In addition, several Massachusetts towns as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association will re-evaluate their association with the ADL based on whether or not the ADL, at its national convention in November, decides to recognize unequivocally the Armenian Genocide and to support Congressional affirmation thereof.
In a September 12, 2007, letter to Massachusetts town officials, the Massachusetts Municipal Association Board of Directors wrote:
“The MMA has issued a strong and unequivocal statement on the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and supporting passage of the Congressional Resolution. We applaud the Executive Committee of the New England Region of the ADL for taking this position, and the MMA has called on the national ADL organization to do the same. We will continue to review and monitor this matter, recognizing that while progress has been made, we will subsequently re-evaluate our official sponsorship of NPFH after the national ADL determines whether to adopt this position.”
No Place for Hate’s human rights mission clearly conflicts with the ADL’s policies of genocide denial. It is contradictory for NPFH to be responsible for combating hate in our communities while its creator and sponsor is actively engaged in genocide denial, which is the highest form of hate speech and the final stage of genocide.
Please refer to Appendix 4 for more statements by human rights advocates and town officials supporting the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and criticizing the ADL’s opposition to it.
