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ANCA-WR STATEMENT ON CANCELLATION OF OTTOMAN PARADE
ASBAREZ
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region, through
its proactive consultations with Los Angeles City Councilmembers,
the Mayor's Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, and state
legislators' offices, confirms that the organizers of the Ottoman
Military Marching Band, who were planning on holding a procession on
Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on October 3, have decided to pull
their permit and cancel the event.
The ANCA-WR also commends the strength and unity of the Los Angeles
Armenian American community, which collectively voiced its shock
that such an event was taking place and exemplified its readiness to
quickly mobilize to address this grievous transgression.
Although no reason was given for the cancellation, the widespread
outrage in the community, and concurrent well-publicized announcement
by the Armenian Youth Federation calling for a massive protest,
undoubtedly impacted the organizers' decision to ultimately retreat
from their ill-conceived plan to hold this event just one mile from
the border of Little Armenia in Hollywood.
In addition to bringing these serious concerns to the attention of
elected officials, the ANCA-WR two days ago also led the community
in strongly condemning the planned arrival of the offensively-named
band and likewise questioned the irresponsible decision by officials
of the City of Los Angeles to issue a permit to a group who claims
descent from the notoriously murderous corps of the Ottoman Army
known as the janissaries. Within 24 hours of the ANCA-WR statement,
the event was canceled.
The violent and bloody history of the Ottoman Turkish Military,
during which it perpetrated the Armenian Genocide of 1915, where 1.5
million Armenians were mercilessly slaughtered, made the appearance
of the Ottoman Military Marching Band in a city with over 500,000
Armenian Americans, many who are descendants of the Genocide, a clear
cut example of hate speech and incitement.
In solidarity with the Armenian American community, Los Angeles City
Council President Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmember
Paul Krekorian, in a strongly worded statement, underscored the
ludicrousness of the event: "This planned performance, supposedly to
celebrate an event taking place in Orange County, is a provocation
of the Armenian community at a time when the community celebrates
20 years of Armenian independence." The statement continued, aptly
highlighting the significance of the issue in saying that "the 1915
Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire is a wound that
continues to fester."
The ANCA-WR also thanks California State Senator Kevin De Leon's
concern about this issue and his staff's assistance in diligently
attending to this matter while regularly communicating with our staff.
Given the extreme sensitivity of this issue, the ANCA-WR continues to
work with City officials to ensure that the issue is definitively
resolved and that similar instances in the future will receive
the careful scrutiny that they deserve on the part of elected
representatives and City employees.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ASBAREZ
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region, through
its proactive consultations with Los Angeles City Councilmembers,
the Mayor's Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, and state
legislators' offices, confirms that the organizers of the Ottoman
Military Marching Band, who were planning on holding a procession on
Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on October 3, have decided to pull
their permit and cancel the event.
The ANCA-WR also commends the strength and unity of the Los Angeles
Armenian American community, which collectively voiced its shock
that such an event was taking place and exemplified its readiness to
quickly mobilize to address this grievous transgression.
Although no reason was given for the cancellation, the widespread
outrage in the community, and concurrent well-publicized announcement
by the Armenian Youth Federation calling for a massive protest,
undoubtedly impacted the organizers' decision to ultimately retreat
from their ill-conceived plan to hold this event just one mile from
the border of Little Armenia in Hollywood.
In addition to bringing these serious concerns to the attention of
elected officials, the ANCA-WR two days ago also led the community
in strongly condemning the planned arrival of the offensively-named
band and likewise questioned the irresponsible decision by officials
of the City of Los Angeles to issue a permit to a group who claims
descent from the notoriously murderous corps of the Ottoman Army
known as the janissaries. Within 24 hours of the ANCA-WR statement,
the event was canceled.
The violent and bloody history of the Ottoman Turkish Military,
during which it perpetrated the Armenian Genocide of 1915, where 1.5
million Armenians were mercilessly slaughtered, made the appearance
of the Ottoman Military Marching Band in a city with over 500,000
Armenian Americans, many who are descendants of the Genocide, a clear
cut example of hate speech and incitement.
In solidarity with the Armenian American community, Los Angeles City
Council President Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmember
Paul Krekorian, in a strongly worded statement, underscored the
ludicrousness of the event: "This planned performance, supposedly to
celebrate an event taking place in Orange County, is a provocation
of the Armenian community at a time when the community celebrates
20 years of Armenian independence." The statement continued, aptly
highlighting the significance of the issue in saying that "the 1915
Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire is a wound that
continues to fester."
The ANCA-WR also thanks California State Senator Kevin De Leon's
concern about this issue and his staff's assistance in diligently
attending to this matter while regularly communicating with our staff.
Given the extreme sensitivity of this issue, the ANCA-WR continues to
work with City officials to ensure that the issue is definitively
resolved and that similar instances in the future will receive
the careful scrutiny that they deserve on the part of elected
representatives and City employees.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress