LOS ANGELES BILLBOARDS CALL ATTENTION TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Asbarez
Apr 21st, 2010
One of the Armenian Genocide billboards posted by RoarUSA in Los
Angeles this week
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 manufacturer RoarUSA, 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 .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.