Armenian National Committee, Central California
Post Office Box 626
Fresno, California 93709

PRESS RELEASE
May 27, 2004
Contact: Rich Sanikian

Armenian National Committee, Central California Mobilizes Demonstration
to Encourage Speaker Dennis Hastert to Act on Genocide Resolution

On Friday May 28, 2004, US Speaker of the House of Representatives
will be attending a political fundraiser for California Senator Ray
Ashburn at Pardini’s on Shaw and Van Ness Avenues. From 11:30-12:30
p.m., the Armenian National Committee (ANC), Central California will
organize a protest demonstration to urge Speaker Hastert to bring
House Resolution 193 (HR 193) to a floor vote.

An ongoing ANC national postcard campaign sent Speaker Hastert and
Majority Leader Bill Frist 100,000 signed postcards urging them to
take action. Unfortunately, it has been over a year and the resolution
has not been brought up for a vote in the House.

If the House and Senate leaderships do not schedule votes on their
respective Genocide Resolutions, this human rights legislation will
die with the end of the Congressional session this November.

House Res.193 is a Genocide Resolution marking the 15th anniversary
of the U.S. implementation of the United Nations Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. This landmark Convention,
adopted by the UN in 1948, specifically identifies genocide as a
crime under international law. The legislation cites the Armenian
Genocide as an example of past genocides along with the Holocaust,
the Rwandan and Cambodian genocides.

In Fresno alone, this postcard campaign has been endorsed by Fresno
County Supervisor Juan Arumbula; Fresno Councilmen Henry T. Perea,
Brian Calhoun, Tom Boyajian; Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling, Mike
Villines, and Former Senator Jim Costa. Fresno Mayor Alan Autry is
also a strong supporter of the postcard campaign along with many
state officials throughout California.

The Central California ANC hopes Speaker Hastert realizes the
importance of House Res.193 in Fresno as well as across the nation,
where thousands of victims of various ethnic backgrounds settled after
the genocidal attacks of their oppressors. It is hoped that Speaker
Hastert and Majority Leader Frist move in a positive direction to
bring this important bill for a vote in the House.

###

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress