April 10 2003

City of San Francisco Calls on Rep. Lantos to Recognize Genocide

San Francisco/Berkeley, April 8, 2003 - The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pass a resolution calling upon Congressman Tom Lantos to support official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Lantos, himself a genocide survivor, for years has opposed Congressional Armenian Genocide recognition. In 2000, when the Armenian Genocide Resolution came before the House International Relations Committee on which he sits, Lantos fought very hard to block it's passage. Lantos is the only Bay Area Congressman who opposes Armenian Genocide recognition.

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, after discussions with the Bay Area ANC, introduced this newest resolution directed at Congressman Lantos. Peskin, who's election three years ago was supported by the Bay Area ANC, has introduced Armenian Genocide resolutions each year, including a resolution passed two weeks ago, commemorating April 24th as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco.


S.F. Board of Supervisors Resolution calling upon Congressman Tom Lantos to reflect the will of the people and elected representatives of San Francisco, and support and advocate for the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide:

        WHEREAS, in 1915 the Ottoman Turkish Government initiated a Genocidal campaign against Armenians; and

        WHEREAS, 1.5 million Armenians were killed as a result of this Genocide; and

        WHEREAS, to this day, this historical fact is denied by the current Turkish government; and

        WHEREAS, the denial of this genocide set a precedent and contributed to the perpetration of later genocides throughout the 20th Century, including the Jewish Holocaust, during which Adolf Hitler was quoted in August, 1939 as having asked "Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?"; and

        WHEREAS, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on March 18, 2003, declaring April 24, 2003 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, and approved that a letter be sent to President George W. Bush, urging him to provide just recognition to the Armenian Genocide; and

        WHEREAS, Congressman Tom Lantos has represented the City and County of San Francisco in the United States House of Representatives with distinction, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and as the Ranking Democrat in the House International Relations Committee; and

        WHEREAS, Congressman Lantos during the early part his career, as reflected in his comments on April 21, 1983 in the Congressional Record, recognized the importance of recognition of the Armenian Genocide; and

        WHEREAS, in recent years, most notably in September and October of 2000, Congressman Lantos apposed the adoption of a H.R. 596, which sought to recognize the Armenian Genocide, justifying his position on his fear that the proper recognition of the murder of 1.5 million Armenians could harm U.S.-Turkish relations; and

        WHEREAS, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors maintains that the proper recognition of the crime of Genocide and other crimes against humanity should never be sacrificed for perceived political benefits; and

        WHEREAS, by joining our voices against the deniers of the Armenian holocaust, we are able to guard against the occurrence of such genocide in the future;

        THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors call upon Congressman Tom Lantos to advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States Congress, State Department and White House; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors call upon Congressman Lantos to join this Board and many of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in urging President Bush to give just recognition to the Armenian Genocide and to fully support a House resolution which will be introduced by Reps. Schiff (CA-29) and Radanovich (CA-20).

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
SF City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Pl, SF, CA 94102

Gavin Newsom (415) 554-5942, Gavin.Newsom@sfgov.org
Aaron Peskin (415) 554-7450, Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org
Matt Gonzalez, (415) 554-7630, Matt.Gonzalez@sfgov.org
Chris Daly, (415) 554-7970, chris.daly@sfgov.org
Tony Hall, (415) 554-6516, Tony.Hall@sfgov.org
Tom Ammiano, (415) 554-5144, tom.ammiano@sfgov.org
Sophie Maxwell, (415) 554-7670, Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org
Gerardo Sandoval, (415) 554-6975, Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org
Jake McGoldrick (415) 554-7410, Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org
Fiona Ma (415) 554-7460, Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org
Bevan Dufty (415) 554-6968, Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org