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Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA AND GENOCIDE INTERVENTION NETWORK TAKE TO
CAPITOL HILL TO END THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE
-- Over 100 Anti-Genocide Advocates from 25 States
Visit all 535 Congressional offices
-- Urge Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution
and Darfur Divestment Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Anti-Genocide advocates from across the United
States converged on Capitol Hill on March 22nd and 23rd to urge
Members of Congress to pass Armenian Genocide legislation
(H.Res.106/S.Res.106), support targeted Sudan Divestment
legislation (S.831) and ensure proper funding for peacekeepers to
help stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Over 100 activists from 25 states participated in the advocacy
days, titled "End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol
Campaign." The program was organized by the ANCA and the Genocide
Intervention Network (GI-Net). By the end of the whirlwind two-day
campaign, activists had visited all 100 Senate and 435 House of
Representatives offices, meeting with Members of Congress, their
staff and dropping off information regarding pending Armenian and
Darfur genocide legislation.
"I think this [ANCA / GI-Net] partnership is huge in the fact that
we are combining the need to recognize past genocides to help stop
current genocides," explained GI-Net Executive Director Mark
Hannis. "These advocacy days are critical because, as all the
experts show, it is political will that is the fundamental issue at
failing to prevent and stop genocide. So that is where it is key
that we pressure public officials, we meet with them as we have
done over the past two days to let them know that they need to
recognize past genocides and stop the ones happening right now."
The advocacy days began at 8:00am on March 22nd with briefings by
the ANCA and Genocide Intervention Network teams on the current
status of Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide legislation
followed by a brief primer on advocacy tactics, helpful for many
who had traveled to the nation's capitol for the first time. The
participants, young and old, then split into groups committed to
reaching out to every member of the Senate and House, attending
meetings set up with the assistance of ANCA regional and local
chapters.
"This two day visit to Washington, DC could not come at a more
critical time," commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the
Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region. "With
the support of over 180 cosponsors for H. Res. 106 and the recent
introduction of S. Res. 106, activists everywhere must realize that
we must demonstrate our grassroots power both locally in our
districts across the nation, and nationally in Washington, DC - I
am extremely pleased to see over 100 anti-genocide advocates here
on Capitol Hill working to raise awareness regarding Darfur
divestment and the Armenian Genocide," added Kzirian.
"The diversity of Grassroots Capitol Campaign participants was most
inspiring," explained ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian.
"From former Congressional staff to students raising their voices
for the first time in support of this key human rights issue - it
is clear that the anti-genocide constituency in the United States
is growing and becoming increasingly effective."
On Thursday evening, participants joined with anti-genocide
advocates from the Greater Washington DC area to share their
stories at the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Capitol Hill observance.
Members of Congress participating in the observance included
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad
Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), John Sarbanes
(D-MD), and Jean Schmidt (R-OH).
Reps Pallone and Schiff emphasized the importance of holding
advocacy days to call attention to anti-genocide legislation.
"Grassroots... is really what it is all about," explained Rep.
Pallone. "You come down here and you talk to Members of Congress
and when you go home you talk to them and other elected officials
and other community groups and create this type of coalition. It
is crucial for any success in ending the cycle of genocide."
Rep. Schiff explained that the assault on the Armenian Genocide
resolution is greater this year than ever before. "Throughout the
years that I have worked on this here, and Frank [Pallone] long
before I got here, there has always been vigorous opposition to the
Genocide Resolution. But I have never seen it of this order of
magnitude. And the pushback from the Turkish lobby and its allies
is extraordinary. And that means that all of you, and all of your
friends and family and colleagues have to redouble our efforts not
only to win new supporters of the resolution but to make sure that
we keep the supporters that we have steadfast. Because they are
working not only to prevent the growth of support for the
resolution, but to peel people off of it."
The anti-genocide advocates focused on Armenian Genocide
legislation (S.Res.106/H.Res.106) which reaffirms the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide and urges the President to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide as "genocide" in his yearly
April 24th statement. The House version was introduced this
January by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) along with Representatives
Sherman and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. This measure currently has 182 cosponsors. The Senate
resolution, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John
Ensign (R-NV) currently has 26 cosponsors.
Activists stressed the urgent need for action to stop the ongoing
genocide in Darfur. They urged support for the Sudan Divestment
Authorization Act (SDAA - S.831) in the Senate, also introduced by
Sen. Durbin, which authorizes states to divest from companies
helping to fund genocide in Darfur, Sudan. In the House, activists
called for increased funding for peacekeeping troops stationed in
Darfur, in an effort to curb ongoing violence against innocent
civilians. Since February, 2003, the Sudanese government in
Khartoum and the Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement,
organized starvation and mass murder to kill more than 400,000 and
displace 2.5 million, with numbers growing every day.
The anti-genocide advocacy team included individuals of all ages -
from high school students to seasoned veterans of Capitol Hill
outreach. Among them were the twenty-students from the New
Jersey's Pascack Valley High School Advanced Placement (AP)
Government class, led by teacher Ken Sarajian. All participants
called on legislators to take decisive action to properly
commemorate past genocides, stop the current genocide in Darfur and
recommit the American people and government to preventing genocides
in the 21th century.
#####
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA AND GENOCIDE INTERVENTION NETWORK TAKE TO
CAPITOL HILL TO END THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE
-- Over 100 Anti-Genocide Advocates from 25 States
Visit all 535 Congressional offices
-- Urge Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution
and Darfur Divestment Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Anti-Genocide advocates from across the United
States converged on Capitol Hill on March 22nd and 23rd to urge
Members of Congress to pass Armenian Genocide legislation
(H.Res.106/S.Res.106), support targeted Sudan Divestment
legislation (S.831) and ensure proper funding for peacekeepers to
help stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Over 100 activists from 25 states participated in the advocacy
days, titled "End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol
Campaign." The program was organized by the ANCA and the Genocide
Intervention Network (GI-Net). By the end of the whirlwind two-day
campaign, activists had visited all 100 Senate and 435 House of
Representatives offices, meeting with Members of Congress, their
staff and dropping off information regarding pending Armenian and
Darfur genocide legislation.
"I think this [ANCA / GI-Net] partnership is huge in the fact that
we are combining the need to recognize past genocides to help stop
current genocides," explained GI-Net Executive Director Mark
Hannis. "These advocacy days are critical because, as all the
experts show, it is political will that is the fundamental issue at
failing to prevent and stop genocide. So that is where it is key
that we pressure public officials, we meet with them as we have
done over the past two days to let them know that they need to
recognize past genocides and stop the ones happening right now."
The advocacy days began at 8:00am on March 22nd with briefings by
the ANCA and Genocide Intervention Network teams on the current
status of Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide legislation
followed by a brief primer on advocacy tactics, helpful for many
who had traveled to the nation's capitol for the first time. The
participants, young and old, then split into groups committed to
reaching out to every member of the Senate and House, attending
meetings set up with the assistance of ANCA regional and local
chapters.
"This two day visit to Washington, DC could not come at a more
critical time," commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the
Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region. "With
the support of over 180 cosponsors for H. Res. 106 and the recent
introduction of S. Res. 106, activists everywhere must realize that
we must demonstrate our grassroots power both locally in our
districts across the nation, and nationally in Washington, DC - I
am extremely pleased to see over 100 anti-genocide advocates here
on Capitol Hill working to raise awareness regarding Darfur
divestment and the Armenian Genocide," added Kzirian.
"The diversity of Grassroots Capitol Campaign participants was most
inspiring," explained ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian.
"From former Congressional staff to students raising their voices
for the first time in support of this key human rights issue - it
is clear that the anti-genocide constituency in the United States
is growing and becoming increasingly effective."
On Thursday evening, participants joined with anti-genocide
advocates from the Greater Washington DC area to share their
stories at the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Capitol Hill observance.
Members of Congress participating in the observance included
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad
Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), John Sarbanes
(D-MD), and Jean Schmidt (R-OH).
Reps Pallone and Schiff emphasized the importance of holding
advocacy days to call attention to anti-genocide legislation.
"Grassroots... is really what it is all about," explained Rep.
Pallone. "You come down here and you talk to Members of Congress
and when you go home you talk to them and other elected officials
and other community groups and create this type of coalition. It
is crucial for any success in ending the cycle of genocide."
Rep. Schiff explained that the assault on the Armenian Genocide
resolution is greater this year than ever before. "Throughout the
years that I have worked on this here, and Frank [Pallone] long
before I got here, there has always been vigorous opposition to the
Genocide Resolution. But I have never seen it of this order of
magnitude. And the pushback from the Turkish lobby and its allies
is extraordinary. And that means that all of you, and all of your
friends and family and colleagues have to redouble our efforts not
only to win new supporters of the resolution but to make sure that
we keep the supporters that we have steadfast. Because they are
working not only to prevent the growth of support for the
resolution, but to peel people off of it."
The anti-genocide advocates focused on Armenian Genocide
legislation (S.Res.106/H.Res.106) which reaffirms the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide and urges the President to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide as "genocide" in his yearly
April 24th statement. The House version was introduced this
January by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) along with Representatives
Sherman and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. This measure currently has 182 cosponsors. The Senate
resolution, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John
Ensign (R-NV) currently has 26 cosponsors.
Activists stressed the urgent need for action to stop the ongoing
genocide in Darfur. They urged support for the Sudan Divestment
Authorization Act (SDAA - S.831) in the Senate, also introduced by
Sen. Durbin, which authorizes states to divest from companies
helping to fund genocide in Darfur, Sudan. In the House, activists
called for increased funding for peacekeeping troops stationed in
Darfur, in an effort to curb ongoing violence against innocent
civilians. Since February, 2003, the Sudanese government in
Khartoum and the Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement,
organized starvation and mass murder to kill more than 400,000 and
displace 2.5 million, with numbers growing every day.
The anti-genocide advocacy team included individuals of all ages -
from high school students to seasoned veterans of Capitol Hill
outreach. Among them were the twenty-students from the New
Jersey's Pascack Valley High School Advanced Placement (AP)
Government class, led by teacher Ken Sarajian. All participants
called on legislators to take decisive action to properly
commemorate past genocides, stop the current genocide in Darfur and
recommit the American people and government to preventing genocides
in the 21th century.
#####