ANCA AND GI-NET TEAM UP FOR SECOND "END THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE" GRASSROOTS LOBBYING CAMPAIGN
DeFacto Agency
March 20 2008
Armenia
YEREVAN, 20.03.08. DE FACTO. 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, reported the ANCA.
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.