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Greater Washington Dc Area Armenian Americans Remember Sumgait, Kiro

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  • Greater Washington Dc Area Armenian Americans Remember Sumgait, Kiro

    GREATER WASHINGTON DC AREA ARMENIAN AMERICANS REMEMBER SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD AND BAKU POGROMS

    http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/03/01/greater-washington-dc-area-armenian-americans-remember-sumgait-kirovabad-and-baku-pogroms/
    12:31 01.03.2013

    Shouting "We Remember Sumgait" and "Justice for Gurgen Margaryan,"
    Greater Washington, DC area Armenian Americans braved freezing
    temperatures today to commemorate the victims of twenty-five years
    of Azerbaijani violence and to stand in solidarity with the people
    of the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, in their effort to
    secure a fair and lasting peace.

    The protest, organized by the Greater Washington, DC Armenian Youth
    Federation "Ani" Chapter and the St. Mary's Armenian Church Youth
    Organization of America (ACYOA), took place in front of the Azerbaijani
    Embassy and coincided with February 27-29,1988, pogroms against the
    Armenian population of Sumgait, which set the stage for attacks
    in Baku in 1990, outright Azerbaijani aggression, and a cycle of
    anti-Armenian violence that continues to this day. The demonstrators
    also called special attention to Azerbaijan's destruction of the
    1,300 year old Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, where they
    demolished thousands of intricately carved cross-stones (Khatchkars).

    "In February, 1988, the Karabakh legislature's democratic action to
    reunite with Armenia was met with the brutal pogroms in Azerbaijan's
    second largest city, Sumgait," said AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Narineh
    Abrahamian, who was among those leading chants during the protest.

    "Twenty five years later, the Azerbaijani government's threats and
    violence continue unabated, with Gor Kazaryan the latest victim of
    sniper fire last week. "We stand in solidarity with the people of
    independent Artsakh - committed to ensuring that their fundamental
    right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not quashed
    by the dictatorial Aliyev regime."

    Following the protest, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church pastor, Fr. Sarkis
    Aktavoukian led activists in a prayer in honor of the Sumgait,
    Kirovabad, and Baku victims.

    In a surprise move, Azerbaijani groups abandoned their annual
    counter-protest in defense of their ambassador and embassy.

    Previously, flag-wearing Azerbaijani and Turkish protesters jovially
    celebrated the Sumgait atrocities, dishonoring the memory of those
    who perished. AYF members had taken additional security measures this
    year in the face of the brawl incited by pro-Aliyev youth at a solemn
    remembrance of Sumgait victims held at the French National Assembly
    earlier this week.

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