U.S. attorney publishes letter to Boston Globe editorAugust 20, 2010 - 13:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Arnold R. Rosenfeld, of K & L Gates, LLP, attorney who, along with Erwin Chemerinsky of University of California Irvine Law School and Van Krikorian of Pace University Law School, represented the Armenian Assembly of America in the Griswold v. Driscoll case, published a letter to the editor in the Boston Globe, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. Rosenfeld's letter corrects plaintiff attorney Harvey Silverglate's statement in the Globe's August 12 article. Silverglate represented the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, and sought not only to introduce Armenian Genocide denial materials into the American classroom but also to cut off teaching of the Armenian Genocide. The letter says: “In the article “Schools can exclude materials disputing Armenian genocide: Court ruled on 1999 case’’ (Metro, Aug. 12), Peter Schworm quotes attorney Harvey Silverglate, representing the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, as stating that it “is always is a sad day when a court constricts First Amendment rights rather than expanding them.’’ In fact, as my client, the Armenian Assembly of America, argued in the amicus briefs I filed on its behalf in both the district and circuit courts, this was not really a claim to enforce First Amendment rights. Rather, it was a blatant attempt to give credibility to the denialist theory espoused by the Turkish plaintiffs that the Armenian genocide never occurred. If the plaintiffs’ claims had been allowed, the only First Amendment rights that would have been trampled were those of the Board of Education to decide what should be included in the curriculum guidelines it issues for our public schools. The board’s refusal to include in the guide the views of the plaintiffs was not censorship at all, but protection of the well-established First Amendment right of governmental free speech. The “sad day’’ would have been the presentation of historically erroneous information to our students under the guise of freedom of speech.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |