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ARMENIAN-AMERICANS DEMAND U.S. REAFFIRMATION, JUSTICE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT WHITE HOUSE PROTEST
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/04/22/armenian-americans-demand-u-s-reaffirmation-justice-for-the-armenian-genocide-at-white-house-protest/
19:12 22.04.2013
Armenian-Americans from across the Greater Washington, DC area called
for an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey's genocide denial at a White
House rally held just days before President Obama's annual April
24th statement.
The April 21st "Let Your Voice be Heard for Genocide Recognition!"
protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation "Ani" Chapter,
in coordination with a coalition of Armenian American groups comprising
the Greater Washington Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.
"We are all gathered here today to commemorate and bring awareness
to what New York Times Best Selling Author of The Sandcastle Girls,
Chris Bohjalian aptly called, 'the slaughter you know next to nothing
about,'" began AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Narineh Abrahamian. "The
United States - President Obama - can play an important role in
pressing Turkey to deal honestly with its dark past by speaking
truthfully about this crime. Anything less only enables Turkey's
continued genocide denial. Anything less makes the United States
complicit in that denial. Anything less sends the dangerous message
to other despots that they too can get away with genocide," continued
Abrahamian.
Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram
Hamparian, relayed the hope of the Armenian American community when
then candidate Obama pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
the disappointment in the face of 5-years of subsequent U.S. kowtowing
to Turkish Government threats. "We are going to be the conscience of
this great nation," explained Hamparian. "We are going to put America
- if not this April, but eventually - back on the right side on the
Armenian Genocide issue and in so doing move American policy back to
the right side in dealing with all genocides."
Throughout the course of the protest, AYF members presented photos
and survivor accounts detailed in the iWitness project, the oral and
visual documentation of survivors of the Armenian Genocide by Ara
Oshagan and Levon Parian. The photos and survivor series has been
adapted into a lesson plan for 7th to 12 graders by The Genocide
Education Project. After the reading of each survivor account,
protesters urged President Obama to honor the lives of these and all
survivors and recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Also presented were cables written by U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire Henry Morgenthau and other U.S. Consuls posted throughout the
region during course of Genocide, documenting the deportation and
murder of the Armenian, Greek and Syriac populations from 1915-1923.
"In Memory of the Millions," a poem by noted Armenian author Jack
Hagopian was presented by spotlighting the strength and endurance
of the Armenian people through the Armenian Genocide. Armenian music
was poignantly performed on saxophone by Jake Bournazian throughout
the rally.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/04/22/armenian-americans-demand-u-s-reaffirmation-justice-for-the-armenian-genocide-at-white-house-protest/
19:12 22.04.2013
Armenian-Americans from across the Greater Washington, DC area called
for an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey's genocide denial at a White
House rally held just days before President Obama's annual April
24th statement.
The April 21st "Let Your Voice be Heard for Genocide Recognition!"
protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation "Ani" Chapter,
in coordination with a coalition of Armenian American groups comprising
the Greater Washington Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.
"We are all gathered here today to commemorate and bring awareness
to what New York Times Best Selling Author of The Sandcastle Girls,
Chris Bohjalian aptly called, 'the slaughter you know next to nothing
about,'" began AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Narineh Abrahamian. "The
United States - President Obama - can play an important role in
pressing Turkey to deal honestly with its dark past by speaking
truthfully about this crime. Anything less only enables Turkey's
continued genocide denial. Anything less makes the United States
complicit in that denial. Anything less sends the dangerous message
to other despots that they too can get away with genocide," continued
Abrahamian.
Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram
Hamparian, relayed the hope of the Armenian American community when
then candidate Obama pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
the disappointment in the face of 5-years of subsequent U.S. kowtowing
to Turkish Government threats. "We are going to be the conscience of
this great nation," explained Hamparian. "We are going to put America
- if not this April, but eventually - back on the right side on the
Armenian Genocide issue and in so doing move American policy back to
the right side in dealing with all genocides."
Throughout the course of the protest, AYF members presented photos
and survivor accounts detailed in the iWitness project, the oral and
visual documentation of survivors of the Armenian Genocide by Ara
Oshagan and Levon Parian. The photos and survivor series has been
adapted into a lesson plan for 7th to 12 graders by The Genocide
Education Project. After the reading of each survivor account,
protesters urged President Obama to honor the lives of these and all
survivors and recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Also presented were cables written by U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire Henry Morgenthau and other U.S. Consuls posted throughout the
region during course of Genocide, documenting the deportation and
murder of the Armenian, Greek and Syriac populations from 1915-1923.
"In Memory of the Millions," a poem by noted Armenian author Jack
Hagopian was presented by spotlighting the strength and endurance
of the Armenian people through the Armenian Genocide. Armenian music
was poignantly performed on saxophone by Jake Bournazian throughout
the rally.