WASHINGTON—On March 1, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) launched an array of grassroots, media, advertising, and advocacy initiatives as part of its “End Turkey’s Gag Rule” campaign to encourage the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation H.Res.252 calling on the U.S. government to put the lessons of the Armenian Genocide to work in preventing future crimes against humanity.
The newly inaugurated ANCA campaign comes in the wake of Sunday’s “60 Minutes” program taking Turkey to task over its denial of the Armenian Genocide, and on the eve of the Thurs., March 4 vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
“We’re pleased to launch the ‘End Turkey’s Gag Rule’ campaign as a service to help Americans of every background to better understand the danger of denial and the urgency of taking action now to secure congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the ANCA. “As Americans, we simply cannot allow any nation—Turkey, or China, or any foreign power—to impose a gag rule on America’s moral stand against genocide.”
The campaign, which features a compelling image of the Statue of Liberty gagged by a Turkish flag, is anchored by an interactive website, www.anca.org/endthegagrule, which offers avenues for advocacy in support of Armenian Genocide legislation, educational resources on the Armenian Genocide, and social networking opportunities.
Advertisements targeting the congressional audience began appearing Monday in three Capitol Hill and political online publications: “Roll Call,” “Politico,” and “The Hill.” The effort is set to expand in the days leading to the House Foreign Affairs Committee vote and continue in anticipation of full House consideration of the measure.
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) has scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on March 4. Over 137 House Members have co-sponsored this measure, spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316), led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) has 13 co-sponsors.
Activists and organizations are encouraged to include the “End Turkey’s Gag Rule” graphic and link on their websites and blogs by contacting elizabeth@anca.org.
Is Congressman McMahon a Turkish mule?
CANA: Congressman McMahon bankrolled by Turkish Coalition of America to deny Armenian Genocide
28.02.2010 18:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congressman Michael McMahon has become bankrolled by the Turkish Coalition of America.
In 2009, Congressman Michael McMahon became a member of the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On May 10, 2009, Congressman McMahon joined the Turkish Caucus. He joined the Hellenic Caucus pledging support for Cyprus and the Patriarchate. To the dismay of Armenian Americans and Greek Americans, he took the Turkish side to deny the Armenian Genocide. He took the Azeri Turkish side to condemn the freedom of Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan Turkish persecution. How trustworthy is this man to Greek Americans when he supports the Turkish side’s denial of the Armenian Genocide which means he probably denies the Genocide of Greeks and Assyrians of Asia Minor, 1915-1923.
Congressman McMahon pledged not to vote ‘Yes’ for the Armenian Genocide Resolution in an upcoming March 4, 2010 vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Turkish Lobby is using Michael McMahon, after Robert Wexler’s resignation from Congress on Jan 10, 2010, to be the next strong Turkey supporter in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe. Wexler was Co-chair of the Turkish Caucus and Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe. McMahon like Wexler occupied congressional districts where huge Greek American communities resided. Regardless, they keep to their strong support for Turkey. Democrat Michael McMahon is the only strong Turkey supporter in the Subcommittee on Europe along with Democrat David Scott (he voted against Armenian Genocide Resolution), The Cyprus Action Network of America reported.
McMahon represents New York’s 13th Congressional District which includes Staten Island, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) was submitted to the House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), on January 30, 2007, during the 110th United States Congress. It was a non-binding resolution calling upon the US President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. Upon its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill, requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed.
Another resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich (R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009. It currently has 137 co-sponsors
Armenian Weekly — as I suggested in another comment — PLEASE do a story on the amount of money in military aid Turkey’s threats indicate they are willing to give up in order to prevent the US from using bases in Turkey. How much money are the Turks willing to forgo from the US government in order to make good on their threats. This is the most hollow, empty, bogus excuse. I would like to read an article that truly examines the threats in depth and what they would mean for Turkey — especially how much aid they’d give up in exchange for closing the use of those bases!