PRESS RELEASE
MARCH FOR HUMANITY
104 N. Belmont St. Suite 206
Glendale, CA 91206
Contact: Serouj Aprahamian, Vicken Sosikian
Tel: 818.507.1933
Fax: 818.240.3442
E-mail: info@marchforhumanity.com
Web:
Walkers Complete More Than a Quarter of The 215 Mile March For Humanity
Merced, Calif., April 6, 2005 – California marchers, walking in
solidarity with the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide
on its 90th anniversary, passed the 80-mile point and arrived in
Merced Wednesday.
The determined group of 14 Armenian youth from Pasadena, Walnut,
San Fernando Valley and Fresno sleep in church halls and eat from a
lunch truck accompanying them on their 19 day trek. As a way to focus
on why they are marching, every morning a marcher tells the story of
a family member who survived the Genocide.
The selfless youth plan on walking to Sacramento, where they will
join a large rally at the Capitol Building, organized to thank
the California state legislature and those of 35 other states for
officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
An interesting addition to the group of marchers, ranging in age from
18 to 27, is the participation of Sanan Shirinian and Zabel Ekemekjian.
Shirinian is a 16 year junior at a private Armenian high school in
Los Angeles. She worked tirelessly to take 20 days off school not so
she can take a vacation but to do her part for her cause.
“My great grandparents were survivors of an attempt to kill all
Armenians,” said Shirinian. “I decided to walk so I can let the world
know about the wrongs the Turks did against my ancestors and to bring
justice to an unpunished crime.”
Ekmekjian, whose father survived the Genocide, is a 63-year-old
grandmother from Moraga, Calif. who felt that she must use her own
body to raise awareness about the crimes committed against her father
and his family.
“Our family was split apart because of the Genocide,” said
Ekmekjian. “I have never met my aunts and my cousins, I know they
exist and that they live in Iraq, but I don’t know who they are
because they lost contact with my father after escaping the massacres.”
Defying sore muscles, blistered feet, and aching legs, the marchers
will continue to walk an additional 150 miles, rain or shine, until
they arrive at their destination on April 21.
The Genocide began in 1915 and lasted for more than six years, claiming
the lives of more than 1.5 million men, women and children. While many
nations recognize and condemn the crime committed against the Armenian
people, the Turkish government has denied it for the past 90 years.
# # #
For more information about the March For Humanity, the marchers,
their shelter, and pictures, please visit