ANCA ENDORSES GRIMM IN RACE TO UNSEAT MCMAHON

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October 25, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today endorsed Michael Grimm in his bid to defeat strident Armenian Genocide recognition foe Michael McMahon (D-NY) in New York’s 13th Congressional District.

Congressman McMahon (D-NY), who is on record having publicly questioned that the events of 1915 were in fact a genocide, spoke and voted against the Armenian Genocide Resolution this past March as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has also led a number of legislative initiatives backed by the Turkish and Azerbaijani lobbies. Federal Election Commission records and media accounts show that has received extensive financial support from deniers of the Armenian Genocide and opponents of Nagorno Karabakh.

“We are pleased to add our formal endorsement to the support that we have, over the past weeks, extended to help Michael Grimm, a principled public servant, defeat Congressman McMahon,” said Raffi Mahserdjian, ANCA of New York Chairman. “It’s crystal clear from his own words and actions – as well as from his campaign finance data and the reports filed by Turkey and Azerbaijan’s foreign agent filings – that Congressman McMahon is the wrong U.S. Representatives for Armenian Americans and all voters in his Congressional District. It’s time for us to elect a Congressman who puts U.S. interests and American values first.”

Michael Grimm has long history of serving his country. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Persian Gulf War and former FBI Special Agent, and has won the endorsements from the New York State Conservative Party, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Guy Molinari, and many others.

Grimm has worked with the Armenian-American community and understands issues of concern to them. He is a committed advocate of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and indicated his support for the full range of issues on the Armenian American legislative agenda.

Just last weekend Armenian Americans from the Greater New York area volunteered at Grimm’s campaign headquarter in Staten Island knocking on doors and making phone calls to reach as many voters as possible. Additionally, members of the Armenian community attended the Molinari Republican Club fundraiser for Michael Grimm at Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn. “The Armenian Genocide is not just an Armenian issue; it is an American human rights issue that every citizen of this free country must support,” said Paul Saryan, Staten Island resident and ANCA activist. “It is important for us to get involved and do everything we can to elect the right people.”

“I applaud our Representatives from both sides of the aisle for working together on this resolution. As a combat veteran of the Marines and as a former FBI Agent, I am sensitive to international relations, specifically with Turkey. However there is right and there is wrong; and genocide is clearly wrong. Now is the time to bring the vote to the floor,” said Grimm.

The Armenian Genocide has been officially recognized, through legislation or proclamation, by 42 U.S. states and has been officially recognized by a growing list of more than 20 nations and international bodies, including, most recently, Canada and Chile. Eleven of Turkey’s NATO allies have already recognized the Armenian Genocide.

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