Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2004
Contact: Armen Carapetian 818.500.1918
Co-Chairman of Kerry Presidential Campaign Praises ANC for Genocide
Recognition Efforts
Los Angeles, CA – Antonio Villaraigosa, the national co-chairman of the John
Kerry Presidential Campaign, read Senator Kerry’s April 24th statement
before thousands of Armenian-Americans at an event sponsored by the Armenian
National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR). The gathering
occurred in the shadow of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello,
California on April 24, 2004.
`The City of Los Angeles will never forget the Armenian Genocide and I,
along with the Armenian National Committee, will do whatever I can to honor
the memory of the 1.5 million martyrs,’ said Councilmember Antonio
Villaraigosa. `In the ten years that I have served in public office, the
Armenian National Committee has consistently been the leading advocate of
issues relating to the Armenian-American community, and I have always valued
the close relationship we share.’
`We want to thank Senator Kerry for his April 24th Armenian Genocide
Statement and Councilman Villaraigosa for sharing this message with our
community,’ stated ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian. `Councilman
Villaraigosa understands our long struggle for justice,’ he added.
Villaraigosa participated in an ANCA-WR sponsored Armenian Genocide program
held at Los Angeles City Hall on April 23, 2004. The Councilman spoke to
Armenian-American leaders at that solemn commemoration and then joined his
colleague and event sponsor Councilman Eric Garcetti in passing a resolution
affirming the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution
emphasized the need to challenge those who deny crimes against humanity like
the Armenian Genocide.
Villaraigosa is the former Speaker of the California State Assembly and now
serves as a member of the Los Angeles City Council.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
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