A BAND’S ARMENIAN ROOTS

Arts Briefly

Broadway World, NY
Sept 26 2005

The rock band System of a Down plans to visit the Batavia, Ill.,
office of Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, Republican of Illinois and speaker
of the House, at noon tomorrow to urge him to bring a resolution
recognizing the Turkish genocide of Armenians between 1915 and 1923
to a full House vote. A rally is scheduled for tomorrow from noon
to 2 p.m. The band joins the Armenian National Committee of America,
Axis of Justice and the Armenian Youth Federation in this campaign.

System of a Down’s four members – Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian,
Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan – are of Armenian descent and have
worked to raise awareness of the issue of genocide against Armenians
and others. On Sept. 15, the House International Relations Committee
approved the resolution.