WASHINGTON (Armenian Weekly), March 2—On March 1, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) launched an array of grassroots, media, advertising, and advocacy initiatives as part of its “End Turkey’s Gag Rule” campaign to encourage the US Congress to adopt legislation H.Res.252 calling on the US government to put the lessons of the Armenian Genocide to work in preventing future crimes against humanity.

The newly inaugurated ANCA campaign comes in the wake of Sunday’s “60 Minutes” program taking Turkey to task over its denial of the Armenian Genocide, and on the eve of the Thurs., March 4 vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

“We’re pleased to launch the ‘End Turkey’s Gag Rule’ campaign as a service to help Americans of every background to better understand the danger of denial and the urgency of taking action now to secure congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the ANCA. “As Americans, we simply cannot allow any nation—Turkey, or China, or any foreign power—to impose a gag rule on America’s moral stand against genocide.”

The campaign, which features a compelling image of the Statue of Liberty gagged by a Turkish flag, is anchored by an interactive website, www.anca.org/endthegagrule, which offers avenues for advocacy in support of Armenian Genocide legislation, educational resources on the Armenian Genocide, and social networking opportunities.

Advertisements targeting the congressional audience began appearing Monday in three Capitol Hill and political online publications: “Roll Call,” “Politico,” and “The Hill.” The effort is set to expand in the days leading to the House Foreign Affairs Committee vote and continue in anticipation of full House consideration of the measure.

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) has scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on March 4. Over 137 House Members have co-sponsored this measure, spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316), led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) has 13 co-sponsors.

Activists and organizations are encouraged to include the “End Turkey’s Gag Rule” graphic and link on their websites and blogs by contacting elizabeth@anca.org.