Armenian Assembly targets Dr. Oz for attacks on Armenian community

Washington, D.C. — The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) condemned targeted attacks on ethnic minorities and the Armenian community.

In their letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Co-Chairs, Talin Yacoubian and Oscar Tatosian, rejected his recent remarks that selectively targetted Armenian Americans.

In the letter dated January 28th, the Assembly acknowledged the Administration’s responsibility to address waste, fraud, and abuse, while underscoring that such efforts must not rely on racism and unjust stereotyping.

The Assembly noted that Dr. Oz’s recent statements referring to “Armenian gangs” and “mafia” are “deeply troubling” and “inflicts grave injustice on Armenian Americans who have proudly served this nation and their communities with distinction,” from military service to public office and business to philanthropy.

“Let us be clear: no one condones fraud or criminal behavior of any kind,” the letter states. “But neither can we accept the painting of Armenian Americans as presumptive criminals based on ethnicity. We categorically reject this kind of racism and stereotyping and urge you to reconsider these hurtful and divisive statements.”