To the Editor:
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has blundered in nominating Joseph S. Berman to be a Superior Court judge. Mr. Berman is a long-time member of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and has been a National Commissioner of that organization since 2006.
The ADL has, of course, worked directly with Turkey to defeat Congressional resolutions on the Armenian genocide and still refuses to unambiguously acknowledge that genocide. The ADL qualifies, therefore, as an anti-human rights organization.
Before and during the height of Armenian Americans’ battle against the genocide denials of the ADL in 2007, National Commissioner Berman apparently never issued a public statement disagreeing with national ADL policies towards Armenians.
Moreover, there’s no evidence that he modified the national ADL’s policies, which remain unchanged.
As a National Commissioner, Mr. Berman must bear responsibility for the ADL’s anti-Armenian stance, even if he claims otherwise. It’s unclear if he understands the human rights issues that judges must deal with.
However, powerful forces, including Boston media, are supporting Mr. Berman and misleading the public about Armenian issues.
Fortunately, the Governor’s Council – eight elected officials who must confirm judicial nominations – is leaning against Mr. Berman’s nomination. Among its reasons is his ADL record.
Armenian Americans should write to Governor Deval Patrick and ask him to withdraw Mr. Berman’s nomination.
They should also ask the Governor’s Councilors to vote against Mr. Berman.
In 2007-2008, Armenian Americans mobilized against the ADL. As a result, over a dozen Massachusetts cities, as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association, severed ties with the ADL’s so-called No Place for Hate program. This made international headlines.
With the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaching, and the ADL still lobbying against our genocide resolution, Armenian Americans must now mobilize against Mr. Berman’s nomination.
David Boyajian
Belmont, Mass.
LETTERS: Urge Mass. Gov. Patrick to Drop Judicial Nominee
To the Editor:
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has blundered in nominating Joseph S. Berman to be a Superior Court judge. Mr. Berman is a long-time member of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and has been a National Commissioner of that organization since 2006.
The ADL has, of course, worked directly with Turkey to defeat Congressional resolutions on the Armenian genocide and still refuses to unambiguously acknowledge that genocide. The ADL qualifies, therefore, as an anti-human rights organization.
Before and during the height of Armenian Americans’ battle against the genocide denials of the ADL in 2007, National Commissioner Berman apparently never issued a public statement disagreeing with national ADL policies towards Armenians.
Moreover, there’s no evidence that he modified the national ADL’s policies, which remain unchanged.
As a National Commissioner, Mr. Berman must bear responsibility for the ADL’s anti-Armenian stance, even if he claims otherwise. It’s unclear if he understands the human rights issues that judges must deal with.
However, powerful forces, including Boston media, are supporting Mr. Berman and misleading the public about Armenian issues.
Fortunately, the Governor’s Council – eight elected officials who must confirm judicial nominations – is leaning against Mr. Berman’s nomination. Among its reasons is his ADL record.
Armenian Americans should write to Governor Deval Patrick and ask him to withdraw Mr. Berman’s nomination (see http://www.mass.gov/governor/contact-us.html).
They should also ask the Governor’s Councilors to vote against Mr. Berman (see http://www.mass.gov/portal/government-taxes/branches-agencies/executive/govs-council.html).
In 2007-2008, Armenian Americans mobilized against the ADL. As a result, over a dozen Massachusetts cities, as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association, severed ties with the ADL’s so-called No Place for Hate program. This made international headlines.
With the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaching, and the ADL still lobbying against our genocide resolution, Armenian Americans must now mobilize against Mr. Berman’s nomination.
David Boyajian
Belmont, Mass.
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See this please about Turks arrested giving the Nazi salute at concentration camps:
http://www.jta.org/2013/12/08/news-opinion/world/tourists-arrested-at-auschwitz-for-alleged-nazi-salute
These Nazi-saluting Turks take after Prime Minister Erdogan, the well-known anti-Semite and genocide denier, who once starred in an anti-Jewish play.
Connect the dots:
1.The ADL once gave Erdogan a human rights award.
2.The ADL cooperates with the anti-Semite Erdogan and anti-Semitic Turkey to deny the Armenian genocide and stop its recognition in Congress.
3. Joe Berman – the Massachusetts judgeship candidate – is a long-time member of the pro-Turkish, pro-Erdogan ADL, and since 2006 has been a National Commissioner of the ADL, while all this anti-Semitism has been going on, and while the ADL has been anti-Armenian.
4. Joe Berman said nothing publicly all this time about these issues and for all we know has never said or done anything.
What does that tell you about Joe Berman and his ADL? What does that tell you about his qualifications as a judge?
It’s incomprehensible that the Massachusetts governor has nominated judge a person who is a senior member of the discredited, racist, and Armenian Genocide-denying ADL–an organization whose prime function is to lobby for a foreign government. I believe the ADL uses the mask of fighting racism to advance the cause of Israel. In denying, for example, the Armenian Genocide, the ADL abets Turkey’s horrendous crime so that a grateful Turkey would become friendly with Israel.
Excellent comments , I am thankful for the points , Does anyone know where my company can access a blank a form version to edit ?