Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 26, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Leads Community Commemorations on Occasion of the 92nd
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
— "Click for Justice" Campaign Builds Momentum
Los Angeles, CA — The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) participated in over a dozen events throughout Arizona,
California, and Nevada, organized by the Armenian American community to
commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA-WR
also joined the community at several more events to raise awareness
about the "Click for Justice" campaign to urge US House leadership to
schedule a vote on H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution
introduced earlier this year by Representatives Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich.
ANCA-WR Board Members, staff, and advocates were invited to, and
delivered remarks at various events ranging from vigils and protests to
educational and community events and school assemblies. In addition to
these events, several ANC Chapters throughout California, Oregon, and
Texas organized and participated in local genocide commemoration
activities.
"At this crucial time of the year we reflect and remember the victims of
the Genocide," remarked Andrew Kzirian, ANCA-WR Executive Director.
"The ANCA-WR is honored to be a part of so many communities throughout
the region. Our organization’s ability to raise awareness about this
crime against humanity is key in building the political will to truly
achieve justice and to prevent future genocides," Kzirian added.
ANCA-WR at local ANC commemorations:
ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian traveled across California over a three
day period to deliver remarks at the Orange County ANC’s "Walk for
Remembrance" on April 22nd, the San Gabriel Valley ANC’s annual vigil at
the Montebello Armenian Genocide monument on April 23rd, and the City of
San Francisco commemoration on April 24th which he attended along with
representatives from the local San Francisco Bay Area ANC.
ANCA-WR Board Member Zanku Armenian joined the Arizona ANC for two days
of commemoration events in Phoenix. The events culminated with a rally
in front of the state’s Armenian Genocide memorial which featured the
attendance of several state and local elected officials. Additionally,
Governor Janet Napolitano’s recent proclamation commemorating the
Armenian Genocide was presented to those gathered at the memorial.
Youth from across Arizona and organized by the ANC of Arizona met with
state legislators to discuss the Armenian Genocide and its importance
and delivered informational packages to their offices about the Arizona
Armenian American community and the genocide.
ANCA-WR Steven Dadaian delivered remarks at a genocide commemoration
organized by the San Fernando Valley’s Rosdom Gomideh and the local San
Fernando Valley ANC.
After delivering an address to the Los Angeles City Council, Council
President Garcetti and Mayor Villaraigosa on April 20th, ANCA-WR
Executive Director Andrew Kzirian traveled to Nevada on April 22nd to
address the Nevada community commemoration as the keynote speaker. In
joining the local community in honoring the 92nd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Kzirian urged all attendees to remember that their
activism and effort is critically necessary to the success of
grassroots. Kzirian also noted the recent cosponsorship support of
Senators Reid and Clinton, and that in the current political climate,
Turkey finds itself losing ground as media and politicians are beginning
to acknowledge the past more truthfully.
ANCA-WR reaches out to community organizations:
ANCA-WR Board Member Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian addressed students at
the Chamilian Armenian School in Glendale during their April 23rd
assembly. In her remarks, she urged students to learn more about the
Armenian Genocide and to use their education and future success to
promote the Armenian Cause. On April 24th, ANCA-WR Board Member Peter
Musurlian addressed the Pasadena Unified School District’s Board of
Education during which he stressed the importance of genocide education
in public schools.
ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian participated in a
panel discussion reexamining the environment in Turkey following the
assassination of newspaper editor Hrant Dink. The event was hosted by
the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles on April 21st at the
West Hollywood Community Center. During the question and answer
session, the audience discussed their concerns regarding Armenian
Genocide recognition and the voices from Turkey who risk their lives to
speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide.
ANCA-WR works with student groups to promote justice:
Earlier this month, Hovsepian delivered remarks at California State
University, Los Angeles (CSULA) during an event hosted by the CSULA
chapter of the Armenian fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Omega. The CSULA
event also featured Ms. Susan Douzmanian from the Genocide Education
Project and both speakers emphasized the importance of learning the
lessons of history and the cycle of genocide that has continued from the
Armenian Genocide to this day in the Darfur region of Sudan. Hovsepian
also addressed the UCLA community at the event "The Armenian Genocide:
Denial and Recognition" which was hosted by the UCLA Armenian Student
Association on the evening of April 23rd. In opening the evening’s
event Hovsepian touched on the evening’s theme of mobilizing the youth
to action in pursuing Armenian Genocide recognition and justice.
That same day, former ANCA-WR Executive Director, Vicken
Sonnentz-Papazian delivered a presentation to graduate students from
Alliant International University. As part of a course designed to raise
awareness about multicultural issues and communities, he discussed
Armenian American culture and the impact of the Armenian Genocide on the
community.
On April 20th, Kzirian served as the emcee for the annual ARF-Shant
Student Association and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) "Youth Rally"
commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The evening’s event featured
several musical performances commemorating the victims of the genocide
and a rousing call to action by members of the community and AYF
leadership. Kzirian addressed attendees and strongly encouraged them to
join the "Click for Justice" campaign, a massive internet advocacy
initiative designed to mobilize and reenergize Armenian Americans to
support passage of H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106.
Kzirian and Hovsepian joined the AYF for their annual protest at the
Turkish Consulate on April 24th. The event drew nearly 10,000 members
of the community and media coverage from almost all major news networks,
radio stations, and newspapers.
In addition to speaking engagements on campus, Hovsepian and
ANCA-Western Region interns attended several other events throughout Los
Angeles to distribute the ANCA’s "Click for Justice" campaign postcards
and t-shirts. These included ANCA-WR booths at both the All-ASA
commemoration concert, "Silenced Cries", which was hosted at USC on
April 15th and the "4-24" community concert commemoration hosted at the
Knitting Factory in Hollywood on April 24th. The ANCA-WR also worked to
raise awareness about the "Click for Justice" campaign on Los Angeles
area campuses including UCLA, USC, Glendale Community College as well as
at the Homenetmen-Western Region Scout’s commemoration event at Wilson
Middle School in Glendale and working with community activist Talish
Aghababayan, distributed educational material about the Armenian
Genocide and ANC youth programs at the Junior State of America debate
conference in Los Angeles on April 21st.
"We welcome the thousands of people at these events who have taken our
‘Click for Justice’ message to heart and we were honored to have worked
with so many community organizations this month to help commemorate the
genocide," said Hovsepian. "This grassroots outreach and collaboration
highlights the importance our community places on the proper recognition
of the genocide and that justice must be delivered."
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.
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Photo caption: A young participant waves the flag at the "Walk for
Remembrance" Commemoration Event in Orange County, California.