PRESS RELEASE
Date: March 18, 2008
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St, Floor 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: ancaer@anca.org
Eastern Region Anti-Genocide Activists Visit Hundreds of
Congressional Offices During Advocacy Days in Washington, DC
–ANCA and GI-Net Team up for Second "End the Cycle of Genocide"
Grassroots Lobbying Campaign
Washington, DC- Over 100 anti-genocide activists from across the
nation joined the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and
the Genocide Intervention Network (Gi-Net) for their second annual
"End the Cycle of Genocide" campaign held in Washington, DC from
March 12-14th.
The three day program, hosted for the second year in a row by the
ANCA and the GI-Net, puts community human rights advocates directly
in touch with dozens of legislators and every single Senate and
House office in support of practical legislative initiatives to
stop the genocide in Darfur and end Turkey’s ongoing denial of the
Armenian Genocide.
.
"It was so wonderful to participate with the Genocide Intervention
Network once again this month to advocate on these important human
rights issues," commented ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director,
Karine Birazian. "It was exciting to see new and familiar faces
throughout the region participate. We will continue to work to
build momentum and push genocide legislation forward in Congress."
Birazian, along with activists from the Eastern Region, spent three
days on Capitol Hill meeting with various members of Congress as
well as distributing informational folders on the Armenian Genocide
and the genocide taking place in Darfur, and highlighting
legislation pertaining to these matters. Eastern Region activists
including those from Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and
Virginia visited close to 300 offices in the House of
Representatives and over 60 offices in the Senate.
First time participants of the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy
Days included several youth activists and professionals. Arin
Vartanian, an Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) member from the New
Jersey Arsen Chapter commented: "Participating in this past week’s
Advocacy Days has definitely left me with a greater understanding
of what it means to fight for genocide recognition. After making
countless phone calls to my senators and representatives over the
years, it was unbelievable to have the opportunity to speak to my
congressmen in person rather than over a receiver. Lobbying on
Capitol Hill with the ANCA, GI-Net, and my fellow AYF members was
an amazing and unforgettable experience and I would like to
participate again." Vartanian, a constituent of Cong. Gary
Ackerman (D-NY-5) also had a chance to meet with the office to
thank the Congressman for his support on human rights issues and
his leadership during the October 10, 2007 markup of H. Res. 106,
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee.
Eastern Region activists met with over 50 congressional offices,
including Members of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs,
Intelligence, and Homeland Security many of whom are cosponsors of
H. Res. 106.
Those in attendance took part in a reception on Wednesday evening
during which several representatives spoke out on this important
issue and stressed the need to continue to lobby and push forward
for genocide recognition. At the close of the Advocacy Days,
activists were invited to tour the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum in Washington, DC.
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Photo Captions:
Photo Caption #1: Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) with MA activist Tina
Sajonian, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, and ANC
of RI member Steve Mesrobian
Photo Caption #2: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ-4) surrounded by ANC of
New Jersey activists, Razmig Tchaghlasian, ANCA Legislative
Director Raffi Karakashian, ANCA ER Executive Director Karine
Birazian, and Arin Vartanian
Photo Caption #3: Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI-5) with ANC of PA
activists Mikael Garabedian and John Gulezian