I’ve just arrived in Cork, Ireland—my first time back since before the pandemic. I’m here because my amazing mother Dr. Veronica Delaney, is getting an honorary degree from her alma mater @UCC. A little thread that can’t do her justice:! 1/ Born in 1943, my mother was 1 of 6 kids, their dad a policeman in Cork. Growing up, she dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, but that’s not something women generally did back then. She ended up getting a PhD in biochemistry—also rare—but she longed to care for patients. 2/

1) Sharing a few personal reflections on @POTUS Biden's immensely moving decision to recognize the #ArmenianGenocide at long last (1/10): 2) A quarter century ago, I began researching the major genocides of the 20th century. My research began, naturally enough, w/ the Ottoman slaughter & I discovered the extent to which Raphael Lemkin invented the word "genocide" in 1944 w/ the destruction of the Armenians in mind

Beginning in 1915, the Ottoman Empire perpetrated a genocide, killing 1.5 million Armenians. For decades, American leaders did not acknowledge this fact, due to pressure from Turkey. Until today.

Thank you @POTUS for your historic decision recognizing the #ArmenianGenocide. 1/7

https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1385988340340563972

Some two million Armenian-Americans live in the United States, and most are descendants of genocide survivors or victims.

Today’s change in US policy happened because of the tireless work of these individuals, who campaigned for decades on behalf of recognition. 2/7

On the eve of #ArmenianGenocide Remembrance Day, sad to think of all those who worked so hard for recognition but didn’t see it happen. First & foremost, the community of survivors—nearly all of whom have passed away. Genocide denial caused them & their families immense pain. 1/5 I’m also thinking of people like Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Dink's newspaper was unique in engaging Turkish & Armenian communities, promoting reconciliation & opposing nationalism. Dink wrote candidly on the genocide—& the Turkish govt frequently persecuted him. 2/5

With long-overdue #ArmenianGenocide recognition seemingly near, it's worth recalling the courage of US diplomats who in 1915 exposed the massacres in real-time, trying in vain to get Washington to help the Armenian people. 1/6 Henry Morgenthau Sr., the US Ambassador on the ground, informed Washington in July 1915: “Persecution of Armenians assuming unprecedented proportions.”

He detailed “frequent instances of rape, pillage, and murder, turning into massacre, to bring destruction” to Armenians. 2/6

Since seeing @repjohnlewis visit Black Lives Matter Plaza this past weekend, I’ve been reflecting on how blessed we are to be inspired and led by an elected official of such decency and courage. 1/11 I immigrated to the US at age 9 & attended Lakeside High School in Atlanta, #Georgia, where parents & the @NAACP had been battling DeKalb County officials & resistant community members to enroll more black students at Lakeside.

Thread showing that the very countries/leaders that the US wants to step up in the fight against #covid are horrified by Trump’s latest tantrum. The US #WHO funding cut off is both shameful & dumb. African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat

Trump has put in place a de facto hold on funds to the @who, requiring agencies to obtain what appears to be ⁦@WhiteHouse⁩ clearance, which will cause needless delays & mean cuts at the worst possible time. A thread on why this is sheer madness: politico.eu/article/corona… .@WHO needs $$ to urgently scale up in poor nations where #COVID is arriving&where death toll likely huge. @BillGates warns of some 10 mlln possible deaths in Africa. Trump may not care abt African lives, but he cares abt return to normalcy here-not poss when C19 raging elsewhere

I have been drawn to the vision & electricity of @ewarren and the policy record of @MikeBloomberg on guns/climate. But I voted today for @JoeBiden. Here’s why: The foundations of a progressive policy platform are empathy and decency, which @JoeBiden embodies to a truly rare extent. These qualities are also the antithesis of the narcissism and cruelty of @realDonaldTrump. The contrast will be stark.

1/6 Thread: a few preliminary thoughts tonight: US, FR, UK military strikes in #Syria are an appropriate response to the monstrous, repeated use of CW by the Assad regime against civilians. 2/6 More unilateral US sanctions wd not deter #Assad. Russia — which vetoed even the renewal of the UN-OPCW investigation mechanism, knowing it told the truth — would never allow any meaningful response through the #UNSC. Russia has never admitted a single regime use.