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SEN. DE LEON PLAYS KEY ROLE IN SUCCESS OF ANCA-WR ADVOCACY DAY
http://asbarez.com/121738/sen-de-leon-plays-key-role-in-success-of-anca-wr-advocacy-day/
Thursday, April 10th, 2014
California State Senator Kevin de Leon speaks during ANCA-WR
Advocacy Day
SACRAMENTO--When more than 350 Armenian-American activists converged
on the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, April 7 for
the ANCA Western Region's 7th Annual Advocacy Day, their experience
was made all the more special due to the efforts of incoming Senate
President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and his staff.
As preparations for this year's Advocacy Day commenced several
months ago, the ANCA-WR decided to request that the annual resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide be more strongly worded than it had
been in previous years. This call to action was heeded by Senator de
Leon, who took on the responsibility of personally introducing the
resolution in the State Senate, all the while working closely with
the ANCA-WR. The result was SJR 21, which is one of the strongest
ArmenianGenocide resolutions ever adopted by a state legislative body.
The Senate session was opened with a moving invocation and prayer by
Father Vahan Gosdanian of Fresno's Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church, followed by the flag presentation by the Santa Clara Homenetmen
Ani Scouts. As Senator de Leon rose to introduce the resolution,
he acknowledged the gallery full of Advocacy Day participants and
thanked the ANCA-WR for its presence and participation. In his remarks
urging support for SJR 21, Senator de Leon eloquently described
that the violence against the Armenians was inhumane, but "now they
would be made to bear a second inhumanity of violence against their
memory." He proclaimed that "the Great State of California will not
let their history vanish and will not let their demand for justice
to go unheeded."
Strong words of support were also voiced by Senator Ricardo Lara,
who also co-authored the resolution and chairs the Legislative Latino
Caucus, Senator Holly Mitchell as Chair of the California Legislative
Black Caucus, Senator Mark Wyland who described Turkish lobbyists as
"absolute deniers," Senator Marty Block as Chair of the California
Legislative Jewish Caucus, Senator Carol Liu who represents a large
Armenian-American constituency, Senator Tom Berryhill who drew
parallels with displacement of Armenians during the Genocide and
now again in Kessab, and Senator Jim Nielsen who called for Genocide
education of California's youth and justice for the Armenian people.
Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian was invited by the ANCA-WR
to address the Senate on behalf of the community in support of the
resolution. He passionately called upon California's political leaders
"to have the courage to speak truth to power" by recognizing the
Armenian Genocide and its present-day consequences, securing just
reparations for a crime that continues to be denied, and learning
the lessons of history as we face the current crisis in Kessab and
guard the future for generations to come.
At the end, a unanimous vote of 35-0 passed the resolution, as Senator
de Leon presented the ANCA-WR with a commemorative framed copy of it
for display.
"We'd like to thank Senator de Leon and his staff for the extraordinary
work he did to make sure that this annual event at the State Capitol
would be a success," said ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. "In
particular, we'd like to acknowledge the assistance provided by his
deputy district director Baydsar Thomasian. She went above and beyond
the call of duty by also lending a hand with the organization of the
rotunda exhibit featuring Near East Relief efforts in California,
as well as the luncheon reception where several legislators were able
to interact with Advocacy Day participants in a more casual setting."
ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq., echoed these sentiments, adding
that "the ANCA-WR is grateful to Senator Kevin de Leon for his
support and leadership on issues of concern to the Armenian-American
community. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him
as he assumes the role of Senate President Pro Tem not only on the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, but also in continuing efforts to
secure California's recognition of the independence of the Republic
of Artsakh, securing mandates for Armenian Genocide education in
public schools, preparing for next year's Genocide Centennial, and
acknowledging California's contribution to the Near East Relief effort
which saved the Armenian Nation from total annihilation."
http://asbarez.com/121738/sen-de-leon-plays-key-role-in-success-of-anca-wr-advocacy-day/
Thursday, April 10th, 2014
California State Senator Kevin de Leon speaks during ANCA-WR
Advocacy Day
SACRAMENTO--When more than 350 Armenian-American activists converged
on the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, April 7 for
the ANCA Western Region's 7th Annual Advocacy Day, their experience
was made all the more special due to the efforts of incoming Senate
President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and his staff.
As preparations for this year's Advocacy Day commenced several
months ago, the ANCA-WR decided to request that the annual resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide be more strongly worded than it had
been in previous years. This call to action was heeded by Senator de
Leon, who took on the responsibility of personally introducing the
resolution in the State Senate, all the while working closely with
the ANCA-WR. The result was SJR 21, which is one of the strongest
ArmenianGenocide resolutions ever adopted by a state legislative body.
The Senate session was opened with a moving invocation and prayer by
Father Vahan Gosdanian of Fresno's Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church, followed by the flag presentation by the Santa Clara Homenetmen
Ani Scouts. As Senator de Leon rose to introduce the resolution,
he acknowledged the gallery full of Advocacy Day participants and
thanked the ANCA-WR for its presence and participation. In his remarks
urging support for SJR 21, Senator de Leon eloquently described
that the violence against the Armenians was inhumane, but "now they
would be made to bear a second inhumanity of violence against their
memory." He proclaimed that "the Great State of California will not
let their history vanish and will not let their demand for justice
to go unheeded."
Strong words of support were also voiced by Senator Ricardo Lara,
who also co-authored the resolution and chairs the Legislative Latino
Caucus, Senator Holly Mitchell as Chair of the California Legislative
Black Caucus, Senator Mark Wyland who described Turkish lobbyists as
"absolute deniers," Senator Marty Block as Chair of the California
Legislative Jewish Caucus, Senator Carol Liu who represents a large
Armenian-American constituency, Senator Tom Berryhill who drew
parallels with displacement of Armenians during the Genocide and
now again in Kessab, and Senator Jim Nielsen who called for Genocide
education of California's youth and justice for the Armenian people.
Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian was invited by the ANCA-WR
to address the Senate on behalf of the community in support of the
resolution. He passionately called upon California's political leaders
"to have the courage to speak truth to power" by recognizing the
Armenian Genocide and its present-day consequences, securing just
reparations for a crime that continues to be denied, and learning
the lessons of history as we face the current crisis in Kessab and
guard the future for generations to come.
At the end, a unanimous vote of 35-0 passed the resolution, as Senator
de Leon presented the ANCA-WR with a commemorative framed copy of it
for display.
"We'd like to thank Senator de Leon and his staff for the extraordinary
work he did to make sure that this annual event at the State Capitol
would be a success," said ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. "In
particular, we'd like to acknowledge the assistance provided by his
deputy district director Baydsar Thomasian. She went above and beyond
the call of duty by also lending a hand with the organization of the
rotunda exhibit featuring Near East Relief efforts in California,
as well as the luncheon reception where several legislators were able
to interact with Advocacy Day participants in a more casual setting."
ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq., echoed these sentiments, adding
that "the ANCA-WR is grateful to Senator Kevin de Leon for his
support and leadership on issues of concern to the Armenian-American
community. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him
as he assumes the role of Senate President Pro Tem not only on the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, but also in continuing efforts to
secure California's recognition of the independence of the Republic
of Artsakh, securing mandates for Armenian Genocide education in
public schools, preparing for next year's Genocide Centennial, and
acknowledging California's contribution to the Near East Relief effort
which saved the Armenian Nation from total annihilation."