In the Wake of Griswold v. Driscoll: A Present Day Discussion on Recognition and Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

Join us for the following FREE teleconference on Thursday, July 14, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EDT, presented by ABA Section of International Law International Human Rights Committee.

The Armenian Genocide has remained a powerful topic for people of both Armenian and Turkish decent for nearly 100 years. This topic has gained additional focus in the wake of Griswol...d et al v. Driscoll.

Griswold, filed in October 2005 by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) alongside two high school teachers and a student, alleged certain educational materials limited free speech by not including resources that presented “contra-genocide” viewpoints. In August 2010, the First Circuit of Appeals upheld a US District Court ruling that prevented the case from moving forward after a five year battle.

In March, lead attorney Harvey Silverglate argued before a three-judge panel that the educational curriculum in question amounted to a “21st-century library” and should be protected from censorship. On behalf of the panel, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, did not directly address the issue of the Armenian Genocide in his opinion. Instead, Souter focused on whether the issue fell under free speech protection and the panel’s ultimate decision that the case could not go forward.

“The Court of Appeals’ decision is a major victory for sound education on the Armenian Genocide,” Van Krikorian of the Armenian Assembly of America, said in a statement. “The Court defended free speech … and struck a blow to the spurious tactics used by genocide deniers to engage under the pretext of debate.”

This teleconference will provide an overview of the issues dealt with in Griswold et al v. Driscoll and a brief overview of the history of the Armenian Genocide and the state of recognition both domestically and abroad.

Speakers include Mark Fleming, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP; Sonya Nersessian, Immediate Past Chair, Armenian Bar Association; and Professor Peter Rosenblum, Columbia Law School (moderator).

Dial-in Details:

U.S. and Canada Dial-in #: 877-464-2827
International Dial-in: 706-643-9966
Passcode #: 81684988