House Vote Tonight, Legal Action Tomorrow

Dear Friends,

Two major events concerning the Armenian Cause are taking place this week, and you can help.

Today 12/13: House Set to Discuss and Vote on H.Res.306 after 3:00pm PST
Over the next few hours, the U.S. House of Representatives will debate and vote on H.Res.306, a religious freedom measure that calls upon Turkey to return stolen Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Syriac church properties.

Please take a moment to call your Representative to urge him/her to vote in favor of H.Res.306.

You can find your Representative and talking points at http://www.anca.org/action_alerts/action_disp.php?aaid=51524506.

House consideration of the measure may come as early as 3:00pm PST with a vote later in the evening. House proceedings can be watched online by visitinghttp://houselive.gov/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&event_id=2

For minute-by-minute updates on House consideration of the matter, follow the ANCA Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ancagrassroots.

Tomorrow 12/14: Movsesian v. Versicherung AG Lawsuit Oral Arguments at 10:00am PST
On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco will hear oral arguments on Movsesian v. Versicherung AG, a landmark lawsuit involving the return of Armenian Genocide-era insurance claims. The decision could affect the ability of U.S. States to commemorate and teach about the Armenian Genocide - affecting over 50 years of advocacy in states across the U.S.

Plaintiffs' attorneys Mark Geragos and Lee Crawford Boyd will be arguing to uphold California's law extending the statute of limitations against insurance companies that never paid out on policies dating back to the Armenian Genocide. The defendants are claiming there is a federal policy prohibiting states from passing laws, which discuss the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. If the defendants win, Armenian Genocide deniers will likely challenge every state law and resolution commemorating or discussing the Armenian Genocide as unconstitutional.

Please attend this important hearing. The date, time, and location of the hearing follow.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
10:00am (space is limited so please arrive as early as 8:30 am)
The James R. Browning Courthouse
95 7th Street, Courtroom 1
San Francisco, CA 94103

We hope you will take action on the above issues and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

To remain informed on our activities, please like our new Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/74w7365 and follow us on Twitter @ANC_SF.

Sincerely,

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Armenian National Committee
San Francisco Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: 415-387-3433
Fax: 415-751-0617
mail@ancsf.org
www.ancsf.org