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FRESNO AYF LEADS GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION RALLY
BY SEVAG JIERIAN
asbarez
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
Fresno community members at the "March for Justice"
FRESNO-The Armenian Youth Federation's Fresno "Kevork Chavoush"
chapter hosted its first annual "March for Justice" in commemoration
of the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The march began at 7 a.m. from the corner of Shaw and Blackstone.
Nearly 100 participants marched south on Blackstone carrying American
and Armenian flags, along with signs and banners. Participants
included AYF members, Fresno Homenetmen "Sassoun" Boy Scouts, Fresno
State Armenian Students Organization members, as well as community
supporters.
"This march was conducted in order to show our community that
Armenians will never forget what happened in the years of 1915-1918,
when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred to the hands of the Turkish
Government. This was done to commemorate our ancestors and the death
marches they were sent on that ultimately took their lives," says
Chapter Chairperson Anthony Torossian.
Walking, chanting, and waving flags, signs, and banners, the crowd of
100 participants marched down Blackstone with the Fresno City Hall as
its end location. Upon arrival at the Fresno City Hall, a crowd of a
few hundred people were gathered anticipating the marchers arrival,
and started cheering.
Once there, the annual Armenian flag raising ceremony, hosted by the
Armenian National Committee of Fresno, began, featuring guest speakers,
Fresno City Councilman Andreas Borgeas, and State Assemblyman Jeff
Denham.
"We have to bring Justice to our people and make sure the United
States government recognizes the massacres of 1915-1918 as Genocide.
We will always commemorate the Armenian Genocide in the month of
April until Justice is served," said Armenian Youth Federation member
Robert Karamanlian.
The five-mile March for Justice and Flag Raising event concluded at
noon and was followed by a religious mass at the Ararat Masis cemetery
to commemorate the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
From: A. Papazian
BY SEVAG JIERIAN
asbarez
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
Fresno community members at the "March for Justice"
FRESNO-The Armenian Youth Federation's Fresno "Kevork Chavoush"
chapter hosted its first annual "March for Justice" in commemoration
of the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The march began at 7 a.m. from the corner of Shaw and Blackstone.
Nearly 100 participants marched south on Blackstone carrying American
and Armenian flags, along with signs and banners. Participants
included AYF members, Fresno Homenetmen "Sassoun" Boy Scouts, Fresno
State Armenian Students Organization members, as well as community
supporters.
"This march was conducted in order to show our community that
Armenians will never forget what happened in the years of 1915-1918,
when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred to the hands of the Turkish
Government. This was done to commemorate our ancestors and the death
marches they were sent on that ultimately took their lives," says
Chapter Chairperson Anthony Torossian.
Walking, chanting, and waving flags, signs, and banners, the crowd of
100 participants marched down Blackstone with the Fresno City Hall as
its end location. Upon arrival at the Fresno City Hall, a crowd of a
few hundred people were gathered anticipating the marchers arrival,
and started cheering.
Once there, the annual Armenian flag raising ceremony, hosted by the
Armenian National Committee of Fresno, began, featuring guest speakers,
Fresno City Councilman Andreas Borgeas, and State Assemblyman Jeff
Denham.
"We have to bring Justice to our people and make sure the United
States government recognizes the massacres of 1915-1918 as Genocide.
We will always commemorate the Armenian Genocide in the month of
April until Justice is served," said Armenian Youth Federation member
Robert Karamanlian.
The five-mile March for Justice and Flag Raising event concluded at
noon and was followed by a religious mass at the Ararat Masis cemetery
to commemorate the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
From: A. Papazian