In the run-up to the Massachusetts gubernatorial election on November 4, both major candidates, Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley, have issued statements in support of the recognition of the independence of Armenia as well as acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.
Baker’s office issued the following statement:
“I am happy to congratulate the Armenian-American community of Massachusetts on the 23rd Anniversary of the Independence of Armenia. The Armenian-American community has enjoyed great success in the Commonwealth, which is home to the oldest Armenian church in America, and the second largest Armenian community in the nation.
More importantly, as we approach the centennial of the first genocide of the 20th Century, it is important that we reaffirm America’s proud record on the Armenian Genocide as Massachusetts and 42 other states have supported. Between 1915-1923, 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were killed in a systematic campaign to destroy the Christian-Armenian population. America’s effort to help save the survivors of the Armenian Genocide was unprecedented in American history at that time. That is something that all Americans can be proud of and something that we should recall as we begin to mark this crime against humanity.
As a candidate for governor of our great Bay State, I stand proudly with the Armenian American community and pledge to work to advance human rights concerning Armenian issues in the future.
