The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Tuesday affirmed a lower court ruling in the case of Griswold v. Driscoll, in which the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) has been a party. The case challenged the ability of Massachusetts state officials to censor a curriculum guide solely on behalf of Armenian American activist groups. Among the materials censored from the guide was ATAA’s website: www.ataa.org .
The lower court controversially ruled that the only remedy for Turkish Americans was to increase their political influence to the point where they could manipulate state officials in their favor.
Taking a different tack, the Court of Appeals ruled that the censorship was appropriate because the guide was a part of the state curriculum. Traditionally, it is difficult to challenge state curriculum decisions.
We disagree with the court’s analysis because the voluntary curriculum guide was much more like a school library than a recommended course of study. We, of course, strongly oppose that the court has in effect let stand the controversial ruling of the lower court.
The ATAA seeks reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian peoples on the basis of an open and honest accounting of history. We therefore will continue to oppose in all states efforts to enforce biased and one-sided historical accounts that foment anti-Turkish hatred.
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