Needham Human Rights Committee recommends suspension of No Place for Hate
By Steven Ryan
Fri Nov 16, 2007, 12:10 PM EST
The immediate future of Needham’s No Place for Hate program is now in the hands of the Board of Selectmen after the Human Rights Committee recommended the town suspend the Anti-Defamation League co-sponsored program.
The recommendation comes on the heels of the Anti-Defamation League’s annual meeting, at which the organization did not change its stance on the Armenian Genocide.
“I think the Human Rights Committee realized the ADL and its sponsorship is perhaps something that should not be in town unless they change their position,” said Charles Sahagian of Hunting Road, an Armenian-American.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association, which also co-sponsors the program, designated Needham a No Place for Hate community through the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen have the ultimate say on whether to maintain that designation.
The Human Rights Committee voted to suspend ties at its Nov. 14 meeting at the Police Station, at which two representatives from the regional ADL spoke about the results of the organization’s national policy meeting earlier this month.
At the policy meeting, the ADL stood by an August statement by its national director, Abraham Foxman, in which he stated the “consequences” of the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during the World War I era were “tantamount” to genocide – a position local Armenians feel falls short of full acknowledgement.
“The national ADL interprets the statement as recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” said Human Rights Committee Chairwoman Debbie Watters, explaining the ADL’s conclusion, as related at the meeting by the ADL representatives, Jennifer Smith, program coordinator for the regional ADL, and Michael Sheetz, of Laurel Drive, a volunteer board member.
“I think the Human Rights Committee did a good job all and all,” Charles Sahagian said. “Generally speaking, feelings were very hurt, but there were no hard feelings. They did as fair a job as they could under the circumstances.”
The committee’s decision comes about a month and a half after it sent a letter to the ADL asking the organization to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide and back Congressional legislation doing the same.
“The longer the national board waits, the more credibility the organization loses,” the letter read.
But some in the Armenian community felt the recommendation to suspend ties did not go far enough.
“I’d like them to sever ties until they get a valid response [to the letter],” said Dorothy Esperian, of Great Plain Avenue. “I guess they haven’t forcefully backed up that letter. Suspending ties does send a message to the ADL but not strong enough.”
Charles Sahagian’s daughter-in-law, Gulnar Sahagian, was also frustrated.
“They gave us a couple of nickels and said we should be happy,” said Gulnar Sahagian, who was escorted from the meeting by police after she tried to ask questions of the committee and the ADL representatives.
The Human Rights Committee’s meeting with the ADL representatives was a public meeting, but it was not intended to be a public hearing, which would have allowed members of the public to speak.
“Some people felt the need to speak up, but it was not the place for it,” Watters said. “We knew very well what the sentiment of the Armenian community was. This was intended as a meeting to get information which was importation for us to make our decision and that was information from the ADL.”
Watters also felt the committee didn’t have the authority to recommend severing ties.
“We can’t sever ties on behalf of the Board of Selectmen,” Watters said.
Needham’s main involvement with the No Place for Hate program revolves around activities at the high school during the month of March.
“The high school will look into putting together programming like No Place for Hate,” Watters said, noting intentions to hold an educational forum in March on the Armenian Genocide with the help of the town’s Armenian community.
“It would be a great way for educating the community,” Watters said.
The town also works with the ADL through the World of Difference anti-bullying program at Pollard Middle School and when the town needs advice on dealing with hate crimes. Watters noted the committee’s decision only addresses No Place for Hate.
The town’s participation in the World of Difference program ultimately depends on the School Committee, and Watters felt the Human Rights Committee had no place to make a recommendation to the School Committee.
Watters also noted the Human Rights Committee will have an internal dialogue on its relationship with the ADL when it comes to using the organization’s resources in dealing with hate crimes.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Jerry Wasserman anticipates Watters will present her committee’s recommendation to the Board of Selectmen in the near future, saying it is too early to tell if there will be a public hearing on the matter.
Watters is currently in the process of working with the committee in forming an official statement.
“I’m hoping the selectmen identify the subject as an agenda item and we go and express the viewpoint of the Armenian-American community,” Charles Sahagian said. “Let’s get up to the selectmen and see what happens there.”
Steven Ryan can be reached at sryan@cnc.com.
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20071119023242/http://www.wickedlocal.com/needham/homepage/x481186899
