Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 30, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA "FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW" CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHTS OBAMA PLEDGE TO
STOP DARFUR GENOCIDE; RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Visit
WASHINGTON, DC – On the eve of the April 1st arrival of Genocide
Prevention Month, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today launched a nationwide online and print campaign urging
concrete action to end the Darfur genocide and full U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Echoing Martin Luther King’s famous remarks at the Lincoln Memorial
in August, 1963, the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign urges anti-
genocide activists across the U.S. to visit to
learn more about the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur and
how this atrocity fits into the cycle of genocide that started with
the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The website provide simple
ways for citizens to call on President Obama to show "unstinting
resolve" in the effort to stop the Darfur Genocide, by
participating in Save Darfur "add your voice" effort
(). Activists can also call on the Obama
Administration and Congress to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
putting to an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey’s international
campaign of genocide denial.
On Monday, March 30, 2009, full page ads were placed in The
Politico and Roll Call newspapers, primarily targeting
Administration and Congressional decision makers in Washington, DC,
with a powerful graphic bringing together child survivors of the
Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide into a stark visualization of
the ongoing cycle of genocide. The photos are juxtaposed with
President Obama’s January, 2008, campaign pledge to the American
people stating:
"Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common
security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in
Sudan many of the same brutal tactics – displacement, starvation,
and mass slaughter – that were used by the Ottoman authorities
against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited
Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust
multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies
doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to
all genocides. I intend to be that President."
To read the complete "Obama file" on Armenian Genocide recognition,
visit:
s/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf
Companion internet ads will be running on the key political news
websites , , and –
which will coincide with President Obama’s upcoming two-day trip to
Turkey on April 6th and 7th.
This past weekend, over 100,000 postcards were distributed to
communities and campuses across the U.S. urging activists to visit
and take action. These will be
accompanied by a nationwide mailing program to activate the growing
anti-genocide constituency across the United States.
The ANCA’s campaign coincides with efforts to have the White House
designate April as Genocide Prevention month, an initiative
spearheaded by the Genocide Prevention Project
(). With successive genocides –
from the Armenian Genocide and Holocaust to the genocides in
Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda – commemorated in the month of April,
GPP has worked with a nationwide coalition of organizations,
including Save Darfur, the Genocide Intervention Network, Enough
Project and many others, in spotlighting a month-long campaign of
activities commemorating past genocides and urging action to stop
the killing in Darfur. Anti-Genocide activities are listed on a
special website – .
The official kick-off for Genocide Prevention Month will take place
on Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00pm at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue,
600 I Street NW, in Washington, DC. After a 20-minute preview of
the documentary, "The Last Survivor", former CNN anchor Andrea
Koppel will moderate a discussion among a group of survivors, anti-
genocide advocates, policy experts, and the filmmakers.
Among Genocide Prevention Month activities is the "End the Cycle of
Genocide" Advocacy Days, organized by the ANCA and Genocide
Intervention Network – bringing activists to Capitol Hill from April 22nd
through 24th to urge recognition of the Armenian Genocide and concrete
action on the Darfur Genocide. The effort coincides with the April 24th
worldwide commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. To participate
in ANCA / GI-Net Advocacy Days, register at
Individuals can help expand the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign by
asking friends, family and coworkers to visit
and take action. The effort can be publicized through a number of
online sharing tools reaching the vast array of social networking
sites including Facebook and LinkedIn, among others. To promote
the campaign on college campuses or local communities, contact Garo
Manjikian at [email protected].