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Letter to U.S. House Members Urging them to Co-Sponsor the Genocide Prevention Resolution (H.Res.220)
Dear Representative:
Please co-sponsor H.Res.220, a bipartisan genocide prevention resolution.
This measure – very simply – seeks to apply the lessons of the U.S. response to the Armenian Genocide in preventing modern day atrocities across the Middle East.
As you know, the genocidal crimes being committed against Christians, Yezidis and others across the Middle East are, in many ways, part of a pattern that began, a century ago, with the Ottoman Empire’s campaign to destroy Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Greeks, Pontians, and other religious minorities upon their biblical era homelands.
We can and should draw upon the lessons of our American response to these atrocities – ranging from relief efforts to diplomatic protests – in order to prevent genocide, in our time, upon these lands. An honest understanding of this history and a truthful appreciation of the genocidal nature of these crimes can help save innocent lives today in the Middle East, and, more broadly, strengthen America’s standing in preventing genocides all around the world.
On a bipartisan basis, H.Res.220 builds upon the official U.S. designation – by both the Legislative and Executive branches – that the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Its adoption would also be consistent with the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by 44 U.S. states and nearly a dozen of our NATO allies.
For further information or to cosponsor, please ask your staff to contact Mena Hanna in Rep. Trott’s office or Jeff Lowenstein in Rep. Schiff’s office.
Sincerely,
Letter Thanking U.S. House Members Who Have Already Cosponsored the Genocide Prevention Resolution (H.Res.220)
Dear Representative:
I am writing to thank you for co-sponsoring H.Res.220 and to encourage you to work with this bipartisan genocide prevention resolution’s authors to secure its passage by the U.S. House.
As you know, this measure seeks to apply the lessons of the U.S. response to the Armenian Genocide in preventing modern day atrocities across the Middle East.
I very much appreciate your efforts to educate your House colleagues about how the genocidal crimes currently being committed against Christians, Yezidis and others across the Middle East are, in many ways, part of a pattern that began, a century ago, with the Ottoman Empire’s campaign to destroy Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Greeks, Pontians, and other religious minorities upon their biblical era homelands.
The passage of H.Res.220 will encourage U.S. leaders to draw upon the lessons of our American response to these atrocities – ranging from relief efforts to diplomatic protests – in order to prevent modern-day genocide. An honest understanding of this history and a truthful appreciation of the genocidal nature of these crimes can help save innocent lives today in the Middle East, and, more broadly, strengthen America’s standing in preventing genocides all around the world.
We are gratified that H.Res.220 builds upon the official U.S. designation – by both the Legislative and Executive branches – that the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Its adoption would also be consistent with the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by 44 U.S. states and nearly a dozen of our NATO allies.
For further information, please ask your staff to contact Mena Hanna in Rep. Trott’s office or Jeff Lowenstein in Rep. Schiff’s office.
Sincerely,
Letter to President Trump and Vice-President Pence Urging them to Properly Commemorate the Armenian Genocide this April 24th
I join with the 84 U.S. Representatives who recently sent you a bipartisan letter calling upon you to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide this April 24th.
As you know, this Congressional appeal, supported by the Chairmen and Ranking Members on both the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees, underscores the moral imperative of a principled American stand against all genocides, noting that: “by commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to prevent future atrocities.” It is long past time for the United States to fully and formally reject Turkey’s gag rule, to embrace an honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, and to work for a truthful and just international resolution of this still unpunished crime.
In calling upon you to properly mark April 24th, I ask you to recall America’s record of past recognition, including President Reagan, who recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1981, and the Eisenhower Administration, which did the same in a 1951 submission to the International Court of Justice. Sadly, in recent decades, American presidents have caved in to very public threats of retribution by Turkey. I look to you to reject any foreign veto over U.S. human rights policy – particularly on matters of genocide, and especially when the foreign government seeking to twist America’s arm is an authoritarian, undemocratic, and intolerant state. Please also publicly support passage of H.Res.220, a genocide prevention measure that calls on our government to apply the lessons of Ottoman Turkey’s genocidal campaign against Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Greeks, Pontians and other Christians in seeking to prevent modern day atrocities across the Middle East.
Thank you considering my views on this matter. I will be following the news to learn of your position on the Armenian Genocide.
Sincerely,