Asbarez – Leading member of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and member of the Turkish Parliament, will visit the Southern California Armenian community and participate in several events, which include an academic conference, a community dinner and a town hall meeting hosted by Asbarez.

Paylan represents the 3rd district of Istanbul and is active within the Armenian community there. He has been a strong advocate for minority rights, human rights and social justice in Turkey and will engage in discussions involving current events in Turkey and the region. Prior to his election to Parliament, Paylan served in the central committee of the HDP and also served on management boards of Armenian schools in Istanbul. He has long promoted bilingual education and minority rights in Turkey and has been actively engaged in raising awareness on issues of discrimination toward minorities, the rights of the Armenian community in Turkey, Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Hrant Dink’s case, and justice for the Armenian Genocide. His family originates from Malatya, and he is currently one of three deputies in the Turkish Parliament who are of ethnic Armenian heritage.

On Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Paylan will be the featured speaker at an academic conference organized by Armenians & Progressive Politics and the All-ASA Armenian Students Association in partnership with the Woodbury ASA.

The conference, entitled “GEOPOLITICS AND MINORITIES: THE CASE OF TURKEY” will be held at the Fletcher Jones Auditorium on the campus of Woodbury University, located at 7500 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA. Guest panelists will include Khatchig Mouradian, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies at California State University, Fresno; Asli Bali, Ph.D., Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Near Eastern Studies at UCLA; and Edvin Minassian, Esq., Board Member and Past President of the Armenian Bar Association.

Saturday evening at 7 p.m., a Community Dinner with Garo Paylan will be hosted by the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA) at Ferrahian High School, 5300 White Oak Avenue, Encino, CA

On Sunday morning, September 25, at 10 a.m., Garo Paylan will first attend Mass at St. Leon Cathedral, 3325 N. Glenoaks, Burbank, CA, and at 11:30 a.m., he will attend Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral, 900 W. Lincoln, Montebello, CA.

On Sunday afternoon, September 25, at 4:00 p.m., Garo Paylan will pay homage to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide by laying a wreath at the Monument in Bicknell Park, Montebello.

On Sunday evening, September 25 at 7:00 p.m., Asbarez Newpaper will host a Community Town Hall with Garo Paylan at the Krikor & Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center located at 211 W. Chestnut, Glendale, CA.