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Watertown Ends Partnership with ‘No
Place For Hate’
Concerned by the Anti-Defamation
League’s Denial of the Armenian Genocide, Town Council Cuts
Ties with Program
 WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On Tuesday, August 14, the Watertown
Town Council unanimously voted to rescind its affiliation
with the “No Place for Hate” (NPFH) program, citing
statements made by Abraham Foxman—national director of the
program’s sponsor, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)—that
denied the Armenian genocide, reported the ANC of Eastern
Massachusetts (ANCEM).
“The Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts
applauds the Town Council for stating clearly and
unequivocally that there is no place for Armenian genocide
denial in Watertown,” said ANCEM chairperson Sharistan
Melkonian. “We hope that this action will prompt the ADL and
its national director Abe Foxman to rethink their profoundly
immoral policies on this issue, properly recognize the
Armenian genocide, and put an end to their efforts to
prevent its reaffirmation by Congress.”
The proclamation, introduced by Watertown councilor-at-large
Marilyn Petitto Devaney, states: “The Town Council has
become aware that the ADL denies the facts of the horrific
Armenian Genocide that occurred from 1915 to 1923, in which
the premeditated, systematic and deliberate murders of more
that one and one half million Armenians from 1915 to 1923
took place, as well as continuing to deprive the Armenian
people of a right to their history. The Town Council can not
continue to join with such an organization.” The statement
went on to reaffirm Watertown’s commitment to “celebrate its
diversity and continue to honor its tradition of tolerance
and respect for all people for which it has always been
known.”
Community Members Express Concerns
Several Watertown residents and civil rights activists spoke
poignantly before an overflow crowd at the Council meeting
about their concerns over Watertown’s affiliation with the
ADL’s genocide denial policies. They urged Town Council
members to take decisive action and encourage other
Massachusetts towns to follow their example.
In his remarks to the panel, Watertown’s “No Place for Hate”
co-chairman Will Twombly explained that the NPFH committee
had met with New England ADL regional director Andrew Tarsy
the night before and had asked for clarification regarding
the ADL’s “unacceptable” position on the Armenian
genocide—which Twombly stated “could not be ignored.” A
proposed amendment by Twombly and the NPFH asking for a
90-day suspension of the program, in an effort to turn the
situation into a “teaching moment” for the ADL, was not
incorporated in the final Watertown proclamation.
Project Save director Ruth Thomasian, the only
Armenian-American serving on the Watertown NPFH Committee,
noted that “every member of the ‘No Place for Hate’
committee was appalled by the ADL’s position on the Armenian
genocide.” She went on to express confidence that a reformed
tolerance committee would “continue its good work in the
schools and in the community.”
In his remarks, Tarsy highlighted the role of the ADL and
its programs. He explained the ADL’s position on the
Armenian “massacres and tragedy”—intentionally avoiding the
term “genocide”—and its role in pressuring Turkey to do more
to “recognize and reconcile.” Yet, he noted that the ADL was
in a difficult position due to the Israeli-Turkey
relationship and the Jewish community in Turkey. While
explaining that the ADL was not opposed to the current
Armenian Genocide Resolutions in Congress
(H.Res.106/S.Res.106), he made no mention of Foxman’s
statements in the Los Angeles Times or the Boston Globe
opposing Congressional adoption of Armenian genocide
legislation. It was particularly unsettling for Watertown’s
Armenian community to witness the ADL’s genocide denial
rhetoric first-hand.
Watertown resident Narini Badalian repeated the infamous
Hitler quote about the annihilation of the Armenians. She
went on to say that “ [In Watertown High School] I learned
not to be bullied by politics.” After arguing for the
importance of the historical record and pointing out the
ADL’s hypocrisy, she concluded, “I don’t think the ADL has a
monopoly on fighting intolerance.”
Twombly countered Tarsy’s efforts to explain Foxman’s
reticence to recognize the Armenian genocide, noting, “The
ADL believes its position is justified for the well-being of
the Jewish community in Turkey. I say emphatically, the ADL
is ignoring a clear moral imperative [by denying the
Armenian genocide].”
Watertown resident and ANCA Eastern Region chairman Dikran
Kaligian commented on Tarsy’s assertion that Foxman and the
ADL have not worked against the Armenian Genocide
Resolution. “When Mr. Tarsy and Mr. Foxman say, ‘We don’t
believe this should be in Congress,’ to say that as a person
is fine and one thing, but when you say it publicly, that’s
lobbying,” explained Kaligian.
Watertown resident Lois Mastrangelo said, “When the ADL was
founded, anti-Semitism was commonplace and accepted. There
was indeed need for an organization and program to counter
such bigotry... Unfortunately, in the last 30 years, the ADL
has used its formidable resources to stifle debate about
U.S. policy towards Israel and to monitor individuals and
organizations and provide intelligence to local police
departments, while defaming anyone who dares question ADL
positions. … Because of ADL labeling tactics, segments of
our society, including the Arab-Muslim community and Jewish
peace activists, have been condemned in a climate of
suspicion reminiscent of the McCarthy era,” she concluded.
Merrie Najimy from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee said, “While the ADL does watch skinheads and the
actions of the Klan, it does not spare First Amendment
groups from its investigative activites.” She added, “I
share the outrage of the Armenian community but there is a
larger issue: The ADL has an agenda. We must ask ourselves
if this is the group we want to be aligned with to advocate
civil rights.”
In her statement before the Town Council, ANCEM
representative Grace Kehetian-Kulegian explained, “We are
confident that the just resolution of this matter will
deepen Watertown’s commitment to tolerance, strengthen No
Place for Hate’s ability to speak with real moral clarity,
and—for the sake of its members and its own future as an
organization—end the ADL’s truly unfortunate affiliation
with genocide denial.”
Town Council Members Speak Out and Cast Votes
Prior to the vote on the proclamation, Town Council members
had the opportunity to address the audience. Each thanked
the hard work of Watertown’s NPFH committee and highlighted
the positive aspects of the program; however, all were
concerned with the ADL co-sponsorship in light of its denial
of the Armenian genocide.
Watertown Town Council vice-president Mark Sideris commented
that “the [NPFH] committee has done a great job in the
schools... I think by Watertown withdrawing its support, it
sends a message—a clear message—that something is wrong and
they [ADL] have to do something about that...”
Councilor Stephen Corbett noted, “I really hate to lose the
program. I would like to see us reconstitute the program
under our own leadership. But I will support the
proclamation. It is not often that a town council gets put
in the center of state and national politics.”
Councilor Angeline Kounelis stated, “I am of Greek heritage
and very proud. As a community we will walk together to make
our lives better and our community stronger.”
Council president Clyde Younger, commenting on the heartfelt
speeches made throughout the evening by Watertown residents,
explained, “We haven’t had this outpouring of emotion for
some years. When you come into the chamber, you never really
know how you’re going to vote. You try to wait until you
have all the facts... I also will be voting in favor of this
proclamation.”
With Watertown having one of the highest concentrations of
Armenians in the United States, the Councilors hoped to set
a precedent by highlighting the improper stance of the ADL
and, in their proclamation, urged national leaders to take
up this issue. Council members expressed confidence that a
similar tolerance program would be developed by the
community—only without the ADL affiliation.
Proclamation author Marilyn Petitto Devaney promised that
she would take the proclamation to other communities and the
Massachusetts Municipal Association and encourage them to
cut ties with “No Place for Hate” and the ADL.
After statements by Town Council members, Devaney introduced
the proclamation, seconded by councilor-at-large Mark
Sideris. It passed unanimously (8-0), rescinding the town’s
partnership with “No Place for Hate.” A sign denoting
Watertown as a “No Place for Hate” city was removed
immediately.
Following passage of the proclamation, Devaney stated, “I
believe it was important for the town of Watertown to
rescind its membership in ‘No Place for Hate’ and end its
affiliation with the ADL. With this proclamation, I plan to
go to the other communities who have joined the NPFH network
and urge them to sever their ties with the ADL.”
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