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ANCA HAILS GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM IN SUPPORT OF GENOCIDE AFFIRMATION
By:Armenian Weekly
Thu, Oct 6 2011
WASHINGTON-Colorado Armenian activists continue to expand their reach
to elected officials in support of a broad range of community concerns
from Armenian Genocide affirmation to building a stronger U.S.-Armenia
relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Most recently, local activists Pam Barsam Brown and Vi Bashian,
the founders of the Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates (RMHA), hosted
a community outreach event honoring Rosemary Rodriguez, the state
director for Colorado Senator Michael Bennett. Just last month, in a
letter to local community leader Jirair Christianian, Sen. Bennett
once again affirmed the Armenian Genocide, stating, "The Ottoman
Empire's systematic killing of Armenians during the close of World
War I can only be described as genocide. Between 1915 and 1922, 1.5
million Armenians were brutally deported, marched to their death,
and systematically killed in camps-policies that were often sponsored
and promoted by Ottoman authorities."
"Pamela, Vi, Jirair, and all of our community's great Colorado Armenian
activists have been at the forefront in educating elected officials
about the Armenian Genocide and urging an end to U.S.
complicity in its denial," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "It is this type of consistent and ongoing grassroots
activism that is the cornerstone of the success of Armenian advocacy
efforts across the U.S."
Complete coverage of the event with Rodriguez, provided by the RMHA,
is provided below.
***
BOULDER, Colo.-On Sept. 20, Armenian Americans, through the auspices
of the RMHA, hosted a luncheon for Rosemary Rodriguez, state director
for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), at the home of Pamela Barsam Brown.
Guests represented a host of Colorado interests and included state
elected officials, educators, small business owners, artists, and
leaders from political, community, human rights, and environmental
organizations.
"Rosemary first met with a small group of Colorado Armenians at my
home in July 2009," said Barsam Brown, just months after assuming
charge of Senator Bennet's Colorado offices. Our group's collective
interest was to secure a firm Armenian Genocide position statement
from our newly appointed Senator. From that point forward, Rosemary
actively assisted us in promoting our position with Senator Bennet.
The final result of this truly united Colorado Armenian and genocide
community effort came last month in a letter from our newest elected
Senator to Jirair Christianian."
Vi Bashian Cooper, who helped organize the event, added, "Pamela
and I both felt this gathering was a perfect way to express our
appreciation to Rosemary, who is a very special person and truly
dedicated to representing Colorado citizens."
"I was delighted to have been able to assemble such an extraordinarily
diverse group of engaged Colorado women. We had a Boulder-perfect
afternoon and guests had the opportunity to discuss
a broad range of topics with Rosemary," said Barsam Brown.
The Rocky Mountain High Advocates is a wholly volunteer organization,
focusing its attention on Colorado-elected Members of Congress. It has
assumed three distinct roles since its founding in 2005: to actively
engage candidates to offer Armenian Genocide pledge statements; urge
Members of Congress to end U.S. complicity in Armenian Genocide denial;
and offer a free community service e-newsletter addressing Armenian
issues from a Colorado perspective.
In April the organization solicited commemoration statements from the
Colorado Delegation. Both Senators and five House Members released
testimonials exclusively to the RMHA. In 2005, Colorado had one House
Member on the Armenian Genocide Resolution and no Armenian Caucus
members. Today, Colorado boasts five House Members on the Armenian
Genocide resolution; one House Member on the Return of Churches
resolution; and five on the Armenian Caucus.
From: A. Papazian
By:Armenian Weekly
Thu, Oct 6 2011
WASHINGTON-Colorado Armenian activists continue to expand their reach
to elected officials in support of a broad range of community concerns
from Armenian Genocide affirmation to building a stronger U.S.-Armenia
relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Most recently, local activists Pam Barsam Brown and Vi Bashian,
the founders of the Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates (RMHA), hosted
a community outreach event honoring Rosemary Rodriguez, the state
director for Colorado Senator Michael Bennett. Just last month, in a
letter to local community leader Jirair Christianian, Sen. Bennett
once again affirmed the Armenian Genocide, stating, "The Ottoman
Empire's systematic killing of Armenians during the close of World
War I can only be described as genocide. Between 1915 and 1922, 1.5
million Armenians were brutally deported, marched to their death,
and systematically killed in camps-policies that were often sponsored
and promoted by Ottoman authorities."
"Pamela, Vi, Jirair, and all of our community's great Colorado Armenian
activists have been at the forefront in educating elected officials
about the Armenian Genocide and urging an end to U.S.
complicity in its denial," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "It is this type of consistent and ongoing grassroots
activism that is the cornerstone of the success of Armenian advocacy
efforts across the U.S."
Complete coverage of the event with Rodriguez, provided by the RMHA,
is provided below.
***
BOULDER, Colo.-On Sept. 20, Armenian Americans, through the auspices
of the RMHA, hosted a luncheon for Rosemary Rodriguez, state director
for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), at the home of Pamela Barsam Brown.
Guests represented a host of Colorado interests and included state
elected officials, educators, small business owners, artists, and
leaders from political, community, human rights, and environmental
organizations.
"Rosemary first met with a small group of Colorado Armenians at my
home in July 2009," said Barsam Brown, just months after assuming
charge of Senator Bennet's Colorado offices. Our group's collective
interest was to secure a firm Armenian Genocide position statement
from our newly appointed Senator. From that point forward, Rosemary
actively assisted us in promoting our position with Senator Bennet.
The final result of this truly united Colorado Armenian and genocide
community effort came last month in a letter from our newest elected
Senator to Jirair Christianian."
Vi Bashian Cooper, who helped organize the event, added, "Pamela
and I both felt this gathering was a perfect way to express our
appreciation to Rosemary, who is a very special person and truly
dedicated to representing Colorado citizens."
"I was delighted to have been able to assemble such an extraordinarily
diverse group of engaged Colorado women. We had a Boulder-perfect
afternoon and guests had the opportunity to discuss
a broad range of topics with Rosemary," said Barsam Brown.
The Rocky Mountain High Advocates is a wholly volunteer organization,
focusing its attention on Colorado-elected Members of Congress. It has
assumed three distinct roles since its founding in 2005: to actively
engage candidates to offer Armenian Genocide pledge statements; urge
Members of Congress to end U.S. complicity in Armenian Genocide denial;
and offer a free community service e-newsletter addressing Armenian
issues from a Colorado perspective.
In April the organization solicited commemoration statements from the
Colorado Delegation. Both Senators and five House Members released
testimonials exclusively to the RMHA. In 2005, Colorado had one House
Member on the Armenian Genocide Resolution and no Armenian Caucus
members. Today, Colorado boasts five House Members on the Armenian
Genocide resolution; one House Member on the Return of Churches
resolution; and five on the Armenian Caucus.
From: A. Papazian