Armenian National Committee, Central California
Post Office Box 626
Fresno, California 93709
PRESS RELEASE
May 28, 2004
Contact: Rich Sanikian
ANC Central California Demonstration Delivers Message to Speaker Hastert
Fresno, CA-On very short notice local community members spearheaded
by the Armenian National Committee Central California, Fresno
mobilized a demonstration in support of a coordinated national
effort to urge Speaker Hastert and Majority leader Frist to bring
this House Resolution 193 (H.Res.193) to a floor vote. The Armenian
Youth Federation, Homenetmen and community members represented a
youth contingent at the demonstration.
Speaker Hastert was in Fresno to attend a political fundraiser for
California Senator Ray Ashburn at Pardini’s Restaurant.
The demonstration received extensive coverage by local media outlets,
with news crews from the local ABC and CBS affiliates, KMJ Radio,
and featured an article in the local newspaper, The Fresno Bee.
Two hundred flyers were handed out and enlarged poster size replicas
representing the 100,000 postcards of the ANCA postcard campaign were
used as protest signs along with slogans stating, “Hastert Hear the
Cry From History” and “Hastert Holds the Genocide Vote Hostage.”
Speaker Hastert comments to local radio reporter Ron Statler was that,
“It has international consequences to it, and it’s something that
we have to work with the State Department on and the White House”
Hastert commented. Sattler stated that the Speaker “declined to say
what changes are needed or what the international implications are.”
ANC spokesman Richard Sanikian informed listeners about the nationwide
phone, WebFax and 100,000-postcard campaign calling on Speaker Hastert
and Senate Majority Leader Frist to take action on the measure.
“After a year, he’s not gotten back to us,” noted Sanikian.
H.Res.193 marks the 15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the
United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.
If Speaker Hastert does not bring the resolution to a floor vote,
it will kill the measure by the end of the year.
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