Armenian Youth Federation
Washington Ani Chapter
4906 Flint Drive
Bethesda, MD 20816
PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2007
Contact: Serouj Aprahamian
(202) 742-8707; [email protected]
Greater Washington DC Area Armenian Americans Demand End to Turkish
Denial of Armenian Genocide
"Get on the Bus for Genocide Recognition" Campaign Takes Anti-
Genocide Message to the Turkish Embassy; Halls of Congress
Washington, DC – A crowd of over 600 Armenian Americans, anti-
genocide activists and concerned citizens gathered on April 24th in
front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC, to mark the 92nd
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and demand an end to the
Turkish government’s campaign of genocide denial, reported the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Washington "Ani" Chapter.
The annual protest has been organized by the AYF on April 24th -the
international Armenian Genocide commemorative day-for over 25
years.
Demonstrators from throughout the Greater Washington DC
metropolitan area, and as far away as Richmond, VA, made their way
to the nation’s capital on several school buses organized as part
of the "Get on the Bus for Genocide Recognition" Campaign.
Participants held signs calling for remembrance of the 1.5 million
victims of the Armenian Genocide and denouncing the Turkish
government’s shameless attempts to suppress history.
The large representation of youth among the crowd exemplified the
Armenian community’s ongoing commitment to achieve proper
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "Nearly a century after the
horrible events of 1915, we see that the youth have not forgotten
the crimes committed against their people. Despite growing up away
from their ancestral homeland, they have maintained their history
and dedicated themselves to the cause of justice for the Armenian
Genocide," said AYF Spokesperson Tsoghig Hekimian.
Also in attendance were anti-genocide activists and members of the
Greek community who came to show their solidarity with Armenians
and call on Turkey to end its 33-year occupation of Northern
Cyprus.
As the demonstration neared its end, AYF "Ani" Chapter Chairperson,
Serouj Aprahamian addressed the energized crowd by emphasizing the
human consequences of Turkey’s unpunished crimes. "After Turkey
got away with the Armenian Genocide, it continued its atrocities
against the Greeks, the Cypriots, and later the Kurds. It served
as a model for Hitler’s Holocaust and other genocidal regimes such
as the current one in Sudan. We stand together here today and
demand recognition of the Armenian Genocide, not just for
Armenians, but for all of humanity, in the quest to end the cycle
of genocide," stated Aprahamian.
Following the demonstration, attendees got back on their buses and
headed to Capitol Hill for the 12th annual Capitol Hill Observance
of the Armenian Genocide, hosted by the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues. Over 10 Members of Congress addressed attendees,
during the two hour program, lead by Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
Speakers commended Armenian American community participants for
their ongoing efforts to educate Congress about the Armenian
Genocide and urged passage of pending legislation – H.Res.106 and
S. Res. 106. Amb. John Evans, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
who was fired for his accurate portrayal of the Armenian Genocide,
also urged passage of the resolution.
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042407_dcdemo2: Armenian youth demands justice at
April 24th demonstration at Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC
eshoo_ayf.jpg: Armenian Youth Federation
Washington Sevan Junior Chapter members with Rep.
Anna Eshoo (D-CA) at the April 24th Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance.