PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 13, 2008
Armenian National Committee of Richmond
369 Hamlet Rd, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103
Contact: Melanie Kerneklian
Tel: 804-784-4002
RICHMOND ARMENIANS TAKE ACTION
–Community travels to Washington, DC in Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide
Richmond, VA- On April 20, 2008, Armenian National Committee of
America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) Executive Director, Karine
Birazian traveled to Richmond, Virginia where she spoke to the
Armenian community on ANCA objectives and initiatives, as well as
how to become more active with the Armenian Cause.
"The excitement to have the ANCA ER Director come to Richmond was
amazing," commented Melanie Kerneklian, chairperson of the ANC of
Richmond. Kerneklian also served as the former chair of National
Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) and currently serves as
the vice chair of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) "Hooys"
chapter. "We had a tremendous turnout and the people were so
pleased to have so many of the issues and the mission of the ANCA
explained so well. Karine Birazian is one of the shining stars the
ANCA and the Armenians have developed. To have the dedication and
the fire to do all she does should make us all take a look at
ourselves and know we can do more."
A dinner party was held that evening by Dr. & Mrs. Murad and
Melanie Kerneklian to give an opportunity for community members to
have a more in-depth exchange with Birazian. There, Birazian also
gained insight as to genocide education initiatives undertaken by
the Armenian Education Center, a grassroots organization founded to
help teachers in the Commonwealth of Virginia gain access to
Armenian Genocide curricula. The Armenian Genocide is included in
the Virginia Department of Education’s revised Curriculum Framework
as the first major example of genocide in the 20th century and a
precursor to the Jewish Holocaust.
The following day, Birazian visited Thomas Dale High School where
she spoke to a class of students on 20th century genocide and the
ongoing genocide in Darfur.
On Wednesday, April 23rd, nearly 40 Richmond activists, among whom
close to a dozen were young teenagers, traveled to Washington, DC,
and participated in the 93rd Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
on Capitol Hill. Activists also had an opportunity to meet with
and speak to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA-7) to discuss foreign aid and
genocide recognition.
While serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, Rep. Cantor
cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Against tremendous
Turkish opposition, the ANC, coupled with Rep. Cantor’s leadership,
helped pass the resolution. As a result, Virginia also introduced
the Armenian Genocide curriculum for Virginia schools.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
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Photo Caption: Rep. Cantor with Armenian American activists from
the Richmond community in Washington, DC.