Armenian Genocide Documentary Screening Attracts 170 In Alabama

Asbarez
Apr 21st, 2010

MOBILE, Alabama – Over 170 students and members of the Mobile community
attended the screening of the critically acclaimed PBS documentary
"The Armenian Genocide" directed by Andrew Goldberg. The event
was organized by a group of students at the University of Southern
Alabama including Narine Karapetyan, Chase Krebs and Rachel Logan. The
successful event included the recent "60 minutes" clip on the Armenian
Genocide and a question and answer session led by a professor in the
History department at the University.

Karapetyan is part of a handful of Armenian families in Alabama.

"Being personally aware of how few people even know where Armenia is,
I found it much more alarming that even fewer had even heard of the
Armenian Genocide. Therefore, to combat this lack, or rather absence,
of knowledge about this crucial part of history, we thought that
Andrew Goldberg’s documentary "The Armenian Genocide" was a great
place to start," said Kareptyan, who has inspired many of her friends
to help educate the Alabama community on the Armenian Genocide.

Alongside the lack of education on the Armenian Genocide in the
state comes a lack of political support for recognition. Alabama
is one of the few states remaining that has not recognized the
Armenian Genocide. Not a single House Representative or Senator from
Alabama has cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution during this
congressional session. Additionally, the controversial Turkish-based
Gulen movement continues to grow in Alabama. Many local elected
officials and professors at the University continue to be offered
free trips to Turkey.

"Although I was initially anxious of how the community at large would
receive this information, I decided that this was not an issue about
political affiliation. Nor was it an issue about race, religion,
or disputed details. This was an issue that transcends every aspect
of society and deals with morality. We decided to set an example by
organizing this event," said Krebs.

Attendees at the event filled out letters provided by the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) to their congressional
representatives. Logan, helping in this effort, had already received
a response from Senator Sessions (AL-R) earlier in the month. "The
introduction of this resolution has already strained our diplomatic
relationship with Turkey. Should this resolution be adopted, it could
have further detrimental effects, with no positive palpable effect,"
Sessions stated in an electronic response to Logan.

"It is clear from Senator Sessions’ response that the gag rule which
Turkey imposes on the United States Congress is in effect in Alabama.

I commend the work of these students at the University of Alabama
Mobile to educate their community on such critical issues" said Stephen
Mesrobian, Chair of ANCA – Eastern Region. "They are continuing a long
and proud history on our college and university campuses of fighting
for human rights and social justice".

With the success of the event, organizers pledged to continue their
work on these issues. "We don’t plan to stop here. We are going to
move this state and nation to action," said Krebs.