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ANCA-WR STATEMENT ON HATE SPEECH AND INCITEMENT
asbarez
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region strongly
condemns the arrival of the offensively-named Ottoman Military Marching
Band and its October 3 visit to Los Angeles. The ANCA-WR likewise
questions the irresponsible decision by the City of Los Angeles to
grant a permit to a group who claims descent from the notoriously
murderous corps of the Ottoman Army known as the janissaries. The
nature and planned performance of the band are not only insulting
but wholly unacceptable to the Armenian American community.
Just over one mile from the borders of Little Armenia, in Los Angeles,
the adoptive home of hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans -
including many whose families were gravely affected by the Armenian
Genocide - the Ottoman Military Marching Band will play the anthems of
a military credited with exterminating 1.5 million Armenian people and
hundreds of thousands of other minorities within the Ottoman Empire.
It is a chilling parallel: the Band will again march through the
streets of an Armenian neighborhood, recreating the horrific scene
of the Ottoman military parading through Armenian towns and villages
100 years ago, before they methodically and brutally murdered the
Armenian populace in the first genocide of the 20th century.
The parade's planning and execution, in a heavily Armenian-populated
community, leaves no question that the Ottoman Military Marching Band
is brazenly taunting the Armenian American community in a blatant
example of hate speech. Despite this flagrant attempt at incitement,
we call upon the Armenian American community of Los Angeles to oppose
this painful and egregious provocation peacefully.
Further, the ANCA-WR remains committed to pursuing justice for the
Armenian Genocide, including recognition by the U.S. and Turkish
governments, and to the belief that no entity is allowed to inhumanely
terrorize victims of genocide and their descendants. As the largest and
most influential Armenian American advocacy organization, the ANCA-WR
stands with all individuals and groups ready to civilly oppose this
vulgar reenactment of an unforgotten and torturous past.
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.
asbarez
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region strongly
condemns the arrival of the offensively-named Ottoman Military Marching
Band and its October 3 visit to Los Angeles. The ANCA-WR likewise
questions the irresponsible decision by the City of Los Angeles to
grant a permit to a group who claims descent from the notoriously
murderous corps of the Ottoman Army known as the janissaries. The
nature and planned performance of the band are not only insulting
but wholly unacceptable to the Armenian American community.
Just over one mile from the borders of Little Armenia, in Los Angeles,
the adoptive home of hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans -
including many whose families were gravely affected by the Armenian
Genocide - the Ottoman Military Marching Band will play the anthems of
a military credited with exterminating 1.5 million Armenian people and
hundreds of thousands of other minorities within the Ottoman Empire.
It is a chilling parallel: the Band will again march through the
streets of an Armenian neighborhood, recreating the horrific scene
of the Ottoman military parading through Armenian towns and villages
100 years ago, before they methodically and brutally murdered the
Armenian populace in the first genocide of the 20th century.
The parade's planning and execution, in a heavily Armenian-populated
community, leaves no question that the Ottoman Military Marching Band
is brazenly taunting the Armenian American community in a blatant
example of hate speech. Despite this flagrant attempt at incitement,
we call upon the Armenian American community of Los Angeles to oppose
this painful and egregious provocation peacefully.
Further, the ANCA-WR remains committed to pursuing justice for the
Armenian Genocide, including recognition by the U.S. and Turkish
governments, and to the belief that no entity is allowed to inhumanely
terrorize victims of genocide and their descendants. As the largest and
most influential Armenian American advocacy organization, the ANCA-WR
stands with all individuals and groups ready to civilly oppose this
vulgar reenactment of an unforgotten and torturous past.
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.