ANCA Joins Call For US Study on Injustice of African Slavery

WASHINGTON, DC-The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) recently joined with a broad-based coalition of civil rights and ethnic organizations in supporting legislation in the US House of Representatives (H.R. 40), that would establish a commission to review the institution of American slavery and its impact on today's African American community.

The author of the legislation, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), is the second most senior Member of the House and the Ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Conyers, who was an original co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, has consistently been a leading advocate for official US recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the full range of issues of concern to Armenia-Americans.

"We are pleased to support this legislation, introduced by our long-time friend Congressman John Conyers," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "As Armenian-Americans we appreciate this very worthwhile effort to honestly assess the past, learn the lessons of history, and seek justice for historic wrongs that continue to impact the world to this day."

The commission which would be created by the adoption of this legislation, in addition to examining slavery and its ongoing effects, would be charged with recommending ways to educate the American public on its findings as well as making recommendations for appropriate remedies.

The NAACP, the nation's leading civil rights organization, is working for the adoption of this legislation. Last year, the NAACP joined with the Armenian-American community in supporting Senate legislation, S.Res. 307, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of America's implementation of the Genocide Convention.

Cosponsors of this legislation, as of March 10, are Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Elija Cummings (D-MD), Danny Davis (D-IL), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Jesse Jackson (D-IL), William Jefferson (D-LA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Karen McCarthy (D-MO), Jim McDermott (D-CA), Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jaunita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), John Olver (D-MA), Major Owens (D-NY), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), and Albert Wynn (D-MD).

The full text of the resolution, which has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, is available at http://www.anca.org/anca/press_docs.asp?docsid=81.