COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS GATHER IN WASHINGTON, DC, TO PRESS FOR ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

armradio.am
23.10.2007 10:10

His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and citizen-activists from
across the US will be arriving in Washington, DC this week to urge
passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution, H.Res.106, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The adoption of the resolution by the House Foreign Affairs Committee
on October 10th sparked a firestorm of media coverage over the
Turkish government’s threats to retaliate against America if the
measure were approved by the full House of Representatives. Turkey
has poured millions of foreign dollars into the US political system,
paying former Members of Congress to make its case and public relations
firms to spin the media coverage against this human rights legislation.

In a first wave of community visits to Washington in the wake of the
panel vote, advocates for this legislation – Americans committed to
the growth of a genuine an anti-genocide constituency – are working
with their elected officials to put America back on the right side
of this fundamental moral issue. The ANCA, Armenian Assembly, and a
range of other community groups are taking part in this effort.

"We are pleased to be joined by so many friends from across the
country in helping to put American back on the right side of this
fundamental moral and human rights issue," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We welcome their devotion and energy and
look forward to working with them to encourage legislators to stand
up against Turkey’s efforts to exercise a veto over the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. Congress."

Activists from over 15 states, including California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Texas will be meeting with Members of Congress and staff
in Washington, DC, with activists in remaining states reaching
out to their Congressional district offices. The Washington DC
advocacy effort, expands on the nationwide ANCA Call-in and write-
in campaigns, which have been underway since the Armenian Genocide
resolution was introduced in January, 2007, by Rep. Adam Schiff
(D- CA) and spearheaded by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA),
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). In March, the
ANCA joined with the Genocide Intervention Network in sponsoring the
"End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, calling Congressional
attention to the denial of the Armenian Genocide and the need for
urgent action to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

This past Sunday, the ANCA hosted a special three hour presentation
on Horizon Armenian Television, titled "ANCA Special Project: Call
for Justice", spotlighting the growing Armenian American community
activism in support of H.Res.106. The special included remarks by
His Eminence Moushegh Mardirosian, His Eminence Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian, and a of host community
organization leaders urging ongoing grassroots activism in support
of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D- CA)
and Brad Sherman (D-CA) both called into the program to offer personal
insights into the path of this legislation.

Among the highlights of the program were updates from ANCA Chapters
from across the United States, documenting their efforts to pass
H.Res.106 and encouraging Armenian Americans to get involved locally
and nationally. The unified voice of the Armenian American community
in support of Armenian Genocide legislation was heard loud and clear
throughout the broadcast, as citizen-activists from Los Angeles to
New York called in to pledge their commitment to this human rights
legislation.

His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, serves as spiritual leader of
Armenian Prelacy Churches in the Western United States. The Prelacy’s
region in California extends from San Francisco to Fresno, Los Angeles
and Orange County. The Prelacy also provides services and spiritual
assistance to the Armenian communities in other states in the western
United States, including: Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.