PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
Eastern United States
69-23 47th Avenue
Woodside, NY 11377
Contact: Doug Geogerian
Tel: 917 428 1918
Fax: 718 651 3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Conyers, Theriault to Discuss Genocide Convention
DEARBORN, MI – The United Nations Genocide Convention and the right
to reparations will be the subject of an Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of Michigan public meeting on November 21 at the Armenian
Community Center in Dearborn.
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Dr. Henry Theriault of Worcester
State College will discuss the significance of pursuing a just
settlement for the crimes of genocide and slavery, forms of legal
recourse for securing reparations, and the ethical and moral issues
raised by slavery and genocide.
Theriault is an expert on genocide and human right issues. He is an
advocate for reparations as a crucial piece of any resolution of the
Genocide and other cases such as African-American slavery. Among his
many articles, Theriault has published two important pieces on denial
of the Genocide and other genocides entitled, “Universal Social Theory
and the Denial of Genocide: Norman Itzkowitz Revisited,” published
in the June 2001 Journal of Genocide Research and “Free Speech and
Genocide Denial: The Armenian Case.” Theriault has also lectured
around the world on denial, reparation, and other related issues.
In addition to being a Worcester State College associate professor of
philosophy, Theriault has served as coordinator of the College’s Center
for the Study of Human Rights since 1999. The center is dedicated to
developing programs, events, and curricula concerning human rights
including genocide.
Congressman Conyers is the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary
Committee and is now serving his 20th term as the Representative
to Michigan’s 17th Congressional District. Conyers is considered
the “dean” of the Congressional Black Caucus and is also a member
of the Armenian-American Issues Caucus. A staunch supporter of
Armenian-American issues in Congress, Conyers has worked hard on
various Congressional initiatives to recognize the Genocide and has
repeatedly called on various presidential administrations to properly
characterize the Genocide as a such. Conyers has also attended the
annual April ANCA Genocide Observance on Capital Hill and has made
special order speeches in Congress on the Genocide. In addition to his
support for Genocide recognition, Conyers has also been a long-time
supporter of US aid to Armenia and Karabagh.
Other human rights causes led by Conyers include support for Haiti’s
emerging democracy, pursuing reparations for the injustices from the
institution of slavery in the United States, demanding the lifting
of inhumane sanctions on the people of Iraq, and championing House
Resolution 193, which commemorates US ratification of the United
Nations Convention on Genocide. Conyers is a lead sponsor of House
Resolution 40, which if enacted would form a commission to study
reparations for African-Americans.
The November 21 event will begin at 7:00 pm at the Armenian Community
Center, 19310 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI and is free and open to the
public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call
(313) 336-6840 or email [email protected].