Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
LOS ANGELES BILLBOARDS CALL ATTENTION TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
LOS ANGELES, CA—Starting this week eight billboards throughout Los Angeles
are drawing attention to the Armenian Genocide. Sponsored by RoarUSA, the
signs draw the attention of hundreds of thousands of residents each day and
exclaim that the `truth will triumph.’
`While there are many Armenian Americans in Los Angeles, the Armenian
Genocide is still unknown to many. This is a very effective way to make
people aware that there is an issue and it compels them to look further into
it,’ noted Ara Oshagan of the Genocide Project. A photo from the Genocide
Project is used as part of the billboard message.
The billboard sponsor, Los Angeles-area businessman and owner of the apparel
manufacturerRoarUSA, Deepak Vasandani was inspired to pursue this project
after learning about the Armenian Genocide during a dinner conversation with
business colleagues and friends Hovig Khaloian and Rafi Ekmekian. Ekmekian
also told Vasandani about his own family’s experience during the genocide.
Vasandani, who had already engaged in other socially responsible corporate
advertising campaigns with RoarUSA, suggested that the Armenian Genocide
would be a good issue to address. It was Vasandani who contacted Khaloian
after the recent March 4, 2010 vote in the US House Foreign Affairs
Committee on H.Res.252 to discuss the vote and relay the news that he had
reserved the billboards for the project. H.Res.252 is the current Armenian
Genocide resolution making its way through the US House of Representatives.
`Deepak is an exceptional human being with an extraordinary vision and an
unconventional approach to tackling complex issues,’ said Khaloian. `His
determination and commitment to corporate social responsibility is admirable
and it is an example that should be followed by others.’
The billboards are located at La Cienega & Whitworth, Western & Lexington,
Westwood & Santa Monica, Topanga Canyon & Schoolcraft, Roscoe & Reseda,
Santa Monica & Western, and Sepulveda & Lucerne. They will be displayed for
the next month.
`The ANC would like to commend Mr. Vasandani’s effort to provoke greater
knowledge about the Armenian Genocide,’ remarked ANCA-WR Chairwoman, Aida
Dimejian. `Being a human rights issue, it is the responsibility of everyone
to help end the cycle of genocide. Education and awareness are the first
steps towards this end.’
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
