By Melody Hanatani/ Staff Writer
Thursday, April 27, 2006
A new coalition of diverse local ethnic groups kicked off an anti-genocide campaign with a rally at the State House last Friday, following the annual Armenian massacre anniversary commemoration.
The group, called kNOw Genocide, includes 10 organizations such as Rwanda Outlook, the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
On his way from the ceremony to the rally, state Sen. Steven Tolman talked about why the coalition was formed.
“Today is a reaction of a diverse group to the lawsuit about the denial of the Turks that this [genocide] even happened,” he said, referring to a lawsuit seeking to introduce materials denying the actions were genocide into the statewide curriculum.
In listing the genocides that have occurred over the past 100 years, such as Armenia, Bosnia and Cambodia, U.S. Rep Edward Markey called on President George W. Bush to recognize the ethnic violence in Armenia and Darfur as genocide.
“Don’t forget Palestine, Markey,” said one protester. “It’s been too long for them too.”
The protester was later escorted farther down Beacon Street, where he continued to yell at the speakers.
Attorney General Tom Reilly, a Watertown resident and gubernatorial hopeful, said the pending case in Boston is not about limiting free speech. He said the only way to find a more just and peaceful future is to face the “ugly truth of our past.”
State Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, announced new “landmark” legislation would be filed this week to force the state to divest from any country where genocide occurs. He said the legislation would be the first of its kind in the country, and hopes it will be a model for other states.
Markey said earlier that the legislation would “ratchet up pressure on the Bush administration to take a firmer stand in Darfur.”
According to some humanitarian groups, about 400,000 people have died in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Belmont resident Heather Krafian, a teacher at Muraco Elementary School in Winchester, is a granddaughter of Armenian massacre survivors. She spoke about the importance of teaching about the episode in the schools.
She said denial has become the modus operandi of the Turkish government. She said there is no doubt among scholars and experts that the Armenians suffered genocide.
“The thread of lies Turkey has woven for 91 years is slowly beginning to unravel,” said Krafian. “The fabric of denial has become torn and tattered. The truth will not be killed, but will prevail.”
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