Trott Blasts Turkey as House Passes Resolution Condemning Violence

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Dave Trott (MI-11), Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus and champion of a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide, issued the following statement after voting in support of H.Res 354, which condemns Turkish President Erdogan's body guard's attacks on peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C. and demands the perpetrators be held accountable:

"The brutal attack by Turkish President Erdogan's henchmen on peaceful protestors outside of the Turkish Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. is unacceptable. While this incident is reflective of the Turkish government's broad suppression of democracy, this is the United States and these overt acts of violence against those expressing their First Amendment right will not be tolerated.

"However, this incident isn't a one-time slip up. The Turkish government has a rich history of violence and brutality. Whether it was the Ottoman Empire's cold, coordinated campaign to exterminate the Armenian population, or Erdogan's thugs beating up people outside the United Nations, kicking peaceful protestors in the head in Washington, or shutting down free speech and journalists in Turkey, Erdogan and his high-priced lobbyists have continually tried to rewrite history. We need to call them out and hold them accountable for who they really are -- thugs."

Rep. Trott's resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide (H.Res. 220) has garnered bipartisan support with 45 co-sponsors include the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

With over 17,000 Armenian-Americans in Michigan, Rep. Trott has led the fight to recognize the Armenian genocide joining a Congressional delegation to visit Armenia for the 100th anniversary of the genocide and co-sponsoring a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the 114th Congress. Historians believe as many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks starting in 1915, yet international governments -- including the United States -- have refused to label the killings as a genocide.

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