texas Archives

TEXAS CITY TELLS PEOPLE NO HURRICANE HARVEY AID UNLESS THEY PROMISE NOT TO BOYCOTT ISRAEL

October 23, 2017 by administrator

October 19, 2017

ACLU HOUSTON — The city of Dickinson, Texas, is requiring applicants for Hurricane Harvey rebuilding funds to certify in writing that they will not take part in a boycott of Israel. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the city’s condition as a violation of free speech rights.

“The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to boycott, and the government cannot condition hurricane relief or any other public benefit on a commitment to refrain from protected political expression,” said ACLU of Texas Legal Director Andre Segura. “Dickinson’s requirement is an egregious violation of the First Amendment, reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of ‘subversive’ activity.”

The city’s website says that it is accepting applications from individuals and businesses for grants from money donated for hurricane relief. The application says that by signing it, “the Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement.”

The city appears to be enforcing a recently passed Texas law that requires all state contractors to certify that they are not participating in boycotts of Israel. While the ACLU does not take a position on boycotts of foreign countries, the organization has long supported the right to participate in political boycotts and has voiced opposition to laws and bills that infringe on the right to boycott.

The Supreme Court ruled decades ago that political boycotts are protected by the First Amendment, and other decisions have established that the government may not require individuals to sign a certification regarding their political expression in order to obtain employment, contracts, or other benefits.

On October 11, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Kansas law on behalf of a high school math teacher who is being required by the state to certify that she won’t boycott Israel if she wants to take part in a teacher training program.

In July, the ACLU sent a letter to members of Congress opposing a bill that would make it a felony to support certain boycotts of companies doing business in Israel and its settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. As a result, Senate sponsors of the bill are considering changes.

Source: https://www.aclu.org/news/texas-city-tells-people-no-hurricane-harvey-aid-unless-they-promise-not-boycott-israel

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Texas recognizes the Armenian Genocide

May 19, 2017 by administrator

texas recognize armenian genocide

The Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 191, titled “Recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” on May 19, thus making The Lone Star State the 46th state in the U.S. to officially classify and commemorate the 1915-1923 annihilation of Ottoman Turkey’s indigenous Armenian community as genocide.

“We are grateful to the Texas House of Representatives for standing on the right side of history by making their dynamic state the latest member of our Union to unequivocally and vociferously honor the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide despite overwhelming Turkish opposition,” remarked Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) Chair Nora Hovsepian.

“This incredible victory, which achieves universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Western Region’s 19 states, was possible because of the outstanding unity and activism demonstrated by the diverse Armenian community of Texas, the unflinching leadership of State Representative Scott Sanford and his fellow lawmakers, as well as the dedication and persistent work of our grassroots—ANCA-Houston and ANCA-Dallas—and staff. While many Texan-Armenians and community groups were instrumental in the passage of and building ground for HR191, I would like to specifically recognize the former ANCA-Dallas founding chair Lucia Nazarian for initiating Texas’ recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Focused Advocacy President Brandon Todd Aghamalian and University of Texas Austin Professor and Armenian Church of Austin representative Mihran Aroian for their leadership in bringing the Armenian community together to make this important recognition a reality,” continued Hovsepian.

The resolution, which had more than 50 original bipartisan cosponsors and passed unanimously, declares, in part, that “During World War I, the crumbling Ottoman Empire began a systematic campaign to eradicate its Armenian population, which then numbered more than two million; and… as many as 1.5 million Armenians perished and today, only 3 million live in Armenia, a country that covers no more than 10 percent of the ancient Armenian homeland, while the Armenian diaspora numbers 8 to 10 million in countries around the world, including the United States,” concluding with the resolved clause “That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Texas follows renewed activism in The Lone Star State, including the 2015 defeat of anti-Armenian resolutions as well as adoption of HR 1541, which recognized Texans’ contributions to the Near East Relief that saved 132,000 orphans of the Armenian Genocide. The latter humanitarian effort was recognized by ANCA-Dallas during its April 2, 2016 ‘Texas We Thank You’ Gala, at which Rep. Sanford received the ANCA-Dallas Advocate of Justice award for his long-time support for Armenian Genocide awareness.

HR 191 was introduced by Rep. Sanford on jan. 26, followed by a public hearing in the International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs committee on April 24, during which ANCA-WR Chief Legislative Consultant Haig Baghdassarian joined a large group of Armenian Americans as well as representatives from the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission and Houston’s Holocaust Museum in testifying in support of HR 191. Following the testimony, ANCA-WR called its online activists in Texas to action, as a result of which hundreds of letters were emailed to state legislators. Many more phone calls were made through joint efforts of the Armenian community in a strong demonstration of unity and grassroots activism.

Texas’ passage of HR 191 follows the Wyoming Governor’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide in April, thus completing universal recognition in the ANCA-WR, which consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Texas lawmakers holding hearing on Armenian genocide

April 25, 2017 by administrator

April 24 is the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide when the Turkish government killed a million and a half Armenians.

While many countries don’t recognize that the event happened, Texas lawmakers are working to officially acknowledge it with a public hearing.

Armenians from across Texas are at the hearing. Many are testifying and sharing their family stories on what it was like to survive the tragedy.

If the Texas House passes the resolution, Texas will become the 46th state to recognize the Armenian genocide.

Representative Mark Sanford is sponsoring House Resolution 191. He believes it’s time Texas recognizes the genocide which took place during WWI starting in 1915. It was planned and executed by the Turkish government against the entire Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were tortured, massacred, deported and abducted.

A film about the genocide, “The Promise”, starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac was recently released. There’s a free screening of the film at 4 p.m. in the Extension Auditorium of the Capitol.

Texas: Turkish Imam Gülen-led charter schools in Texas accused of defrauding $18 million “VIDEO”

July 12, 2016 by administrator

WASHINGTON – Anadolu Agency,

A chain of Turkish Imam Gülen Texas charter schools linked to the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has been accused of fraud and financial malfeasance worth over $18 million.

Amsterdam & Partners, a law firm investigating the movement’s activities, has filed a fraud complaint with the Texas Education Agency, the firm said in a statement late on July 11.

The complaint accused the public-funded school chain and another company, disguised as independent but in fact linked to Harmony Public Schools, of a complicated shell game in which Harmony seemed to contract the other company, but for the purposes of misappropriating funds rather than performing any actual services.
Ankara has pressed the U.S. to extradite Gülen to stand trial for alleged crimes committed in Turkey.

According to the website of the law firm’s founding partner Robert Amsterdam, Gülen “controls some 150 U.S. charter schools through opaque fronts… Gülen-affiliated Harmony Public Schools has been found to be allegedly engaging [in] widespread abuse of the H1B visa program, misappropriation of public funds and discrimination against certain students and families.”

According to the complaint, Harmony – which is financed by over $250 million in U.S. federal and state tax money annually – contracted a firm called Charter School Solutions (CSS) for $44 million to manage its buildings and properties.

But the complaint alleges that CSS, far from being an independent company, was actually managed by a Harmony employee.

“For the purpose of new buildings to be rented by Harmony schools, an additional $18.4 million was paid to CSS,” said the law firm’s statement, which called the financial malfeasance “shocking.”

Amsterdam & Partners filed a formal complaint in late May against Harmony urging the Texas Education Agency to conduct a full investigation based on documented abuses suggesting a widespread pattern of fraud, discrimination and abuse in the Harmony network.

According to the law firm, Harmony operated seven charter school districts serving 46 charter campuses in Texas and had links to the “Hizmet movement,” led by Gülen, who was also believed to be responsible for forming a “parallel state” in Turkey.

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/gulen-led-schools-in-texas-accused-of-defrauding-18-million-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101524&NewsCatID=358

July/12/2016

Turkish festival of Indoctrination of American Student in Texas by Turkish Imam Gulen movement

February 8, 2016 by administrator

The ceremony was held at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, in front of 3,000 attendees. Some 100 students from 13 countries took to the stage during the event and nearly 2,500 students from 150 countries will take part across the globe in various ceremonies for this year’s festival.

Congressman Al Green and Pete Olson also attended the event as the Raindrop Foundation, which held the event, was awarded two certificates of merit on behalf of the state of Texas.

Delivering a speech at the event, Green said that wars could be ended together with the initiators of peace and the world could be turned into a safer place for future generations. Referring to “What a wonderful world,” one of the songs sang during the event, Green said the world is excellent because of the brilliant young people in it, adding that people can live in co-existence and bring peace to the world.

After his speech, Green called on Siwar Andolsi, a student from Tunisia, and gave a certificate of merit to him.

Another speaker, Olson, thanked the Turkish-American society for its contribution to multiculturalism with such an activity. He said it was a source of pride to host such an event and different cultures at the festival, which has given them a chance to express the pride they have felt.

Texas Rejects Pro-Azerbaijani Resolution

May 8, 2015 by administrator

AUSTIN–Texas State Representative Dwayne Bohab on Thursday pulled from consideration a misleading resolution (HR2309) “Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Black January events in Azerbaijan” he introduced late April filled with factually inaccurate historical information with respect to the events that led to the country’s independence as well as its policies regarding people’s right to self-determination and independence, reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region.

“The power of our grassroots’ in Texas against the persistent, yet failed, efforts backed by the Azerbaijani lobby to shamefully introduce legislation that blatantly misrepresents facts is a real testament to our community’s and organization’s resolve to pursue truth and justice for our Cause,” remarked ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. “We were particularly pleased to see Representative Bohac’s quick response and reconsideration to ultimately withdraw the resolution after gaining better understanding of the facts about Azerbaijan and the region,” added Asatryan.

Jeff Stokes, Legislative Director for State Representative Dwayne Bohac informed Asbarez that Bohac’s office had received numerous requests from constituents to introduce a measure such as HR2309.

“When we realized it was a mistake, we placed it on permanent hold,” said Stokes, who explained that per Texas law once a hold is placed on a piece of legislation, no further action is taken on the matter.

The decision to place a permanent hold on HR2309 came just 16 hours after ANCA WR worked with local community leaders and activists to alert Bohac about the facts surrounding the events that led to Azerbaijan’s independence, the corrupt and authoritarian regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the country’s gross human rights violations, coverage of which has increased in the American press most recently in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, under the headlines, “A Thuggish Regime Challenges the U.S.” and “The Two Faces of Azerbaijan’s Mr. Aliyev” respectively.

More specifically, late Monday evening ANCA WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan submitted a written statement to Bohac opposing the resolution on behalf of the regional, Dallas and Houston chapters noting, “The resolution gives the impression that Azerbaijan was invaded in retaliation for its independence movement. However, the truth is that troops were sent to Azerbaijan in order to protect the nearly half million Christian Armenians who were being subjected to violent pogroms and massacres throughout the nation in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijan’s hostility was its response to the calls for independence by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), which was an autonomous region at the time, thereby demonstrating its repressive policies, which are contrary to the claims made in the language of the resolution.”

Asatryan continued on to state, ”Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has the dubious honor of being selected as the most corrupt person by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The NGO’s finding is based on extensive reports and well-documented evidence that the Aliyev family has been systematically grabbing shares of the most profitable businesses in Azerbaijan for many years. Earlier this week, the Committee to Protect Journalists concluded that Azerbaijan is the fifth most censored and repressive country in the world, out of nearly 200 countries in the world. In its report the CPJ concluded that the ‘main sources of information in Azerbaijan are broadcasters which are owned and controlled by the state or its proxies.’ The report also noted that independent media outlets are subjected to harassment and prosecution by officials, and that at least ten journalists and bloggers are currently in Azerbaijani jails on fabricated charges.”

“This being a top priority, our local chapter and I specifically reached out to Representative Dwayne Bohac’s office yesterday to convey our disappointment and opposition to the resolution. Today when I called back to see if we made any headway, I was pleased to hear that the office had already pulled the resolution. This truly shows that each and every one of us can truly make a difference by just making our voice heard,” stated ANCA Dallas Chair Lucia Nazarian. ”Thank you to the Dallas community members for your efforts in shedding light and bringing the truth to the forefront of our Texas legislators,” added Nazarian.

“I am pleased to see that the anti-Armenian resolution was withdrawn and appreciate the diligence of the Houston Armenian community and proud of their dedication for the Armenian Cause, “ remarked ANCA Houston Chair Vrouir Frankian.

Read the text of HR2309.

Read the full text of the ANCA WR written statement.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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