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Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
ANCA-WR Joins California State Legislature for Armenian Genocide
Commemorations
Sacramento, CA - A resolution commemorating the 93rd anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide (SJR 24) was unanimously adopted by both the
California State Senate and Assembly on Monday, April 21, 2008. Led
by the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
(ANCA-WR), representatives from local ANC's throughout the Greater Los
Angeles Area, Santa Barbara, California's Central Valley and Northern
California attended the legislature's commemoration ceremonies and
spent the day visiting with several State Senators and Assembly
Members.
"As a former congressional staffer, I assure you that you cannot
underestimate the importance of these types of visits," stated ANCA-WR
Board Member Peter Musurlian. "If the ANCA-WR did not regularly
organize advocacy days, California legislators would be getting
watered down information from others or worse, no information at all,"
he added.
Following visits with Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly
Member Greg Aghazarian, ANC activists were welcomed to the state
capital with a reception hosted by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino.
At noon, Assembly Member Paul Krekorian led several colleagues,
including Sam Blakeslee, Mike Feuer and Mike Villines, in urging the
legislature to remember the genocide and the consequences of its
denial. Subsequently, Assembly Majority leader and Speaker Elect
Karen Bass as well as Little Armenia representative Assembly Member
Kevin de Leon introduced a motion allowing Krekorian to bring SJR 24
to the assembly floor for consideration where it was passed with
unanimous support.
The Assembly commemoration ceremony was followed by one in the Senate
chambers during which Santa Clara "Ani" chapter Homenetmen Scouts led
the flag procession and pledge of allegiance. Senator Joe Simitian
was joined by his senate colleagues in solemnly remembering the
genocide. A joint closing reception was also hosted by Krekorian and
Simitian.
"What we see today is really very much the result of the hard
grassroots work that the ANCA-WR has done year after year to try to
energize people, educate people, to engage public officials in
dialogue so that they understand why this issue matters to us but also
why it should matter to them," stated Krekorian.
Also attending the day's ceremonies were Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian
of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and
Primate Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
who delivered the opening prayers during the Assembly and Senate
commemorations respectively. Leading the advocacy day were ANCA-WR
Board Members Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Peter Musurlian, Pattyl
Aposhian-Kasparian and Aida Dimejian. They were joined by ANCA-WR
Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian and ANCA-WR Press
Secretary Ani Garabedian. Also in attendance was Father Vahan
Gostanian.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations
around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
ANCA-WR Joins California State Legislature for Armenian Genocide
Commemorations
Sacramento, CA - A resolution commemorating the 93rd anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide (SJR 24) was unanimously adopted by both the
California State Senate and Assembly on Monday, April 21, 2008. Led
by the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
(ANCA-WR), representatives from local ANC's throughout the Greater Los
Angeles Area, Santa Barbara, California's Central Valley and Northern
California attended the legislature's commemoration ceremonies and
spent the day visiting with several State Senators and Assembly
Members.
"As a former congressional staffer, I assure you that you cannot
underestimate the importance of these types of visits," stated ANCA-WR
Board Member Peter Musurlian. "If the ANCA-WR did not regularly
organize advocacy days, California legislators would be getting
watered down information from others or worse, no information at all,"
he added.
Following visits with Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly
Member Greg Aghazarian, ANC activists were welcomed to the state
capital with a reception hosted by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino.
At noon, Assembly Member Paul Krekorian led several colleagues,
including Sam Blakeslee, Mike Feuer and Mike Villines, in urging the
legislature to remember the genocide and the consequences of its
denial. Subsequently, Assembly Majority leader and Speaker Elect
Karen Bass as well as Little Armenia representative Assembly Member
Kevin de Leon introduced a motion allowing Krekorian to bring SJR 24
to the assembly floor for consideration where it was passed with
unanimous support.
The Assembly commemoration ceremony was followed by one in the Senate
chambers during which Santa Clara "Ani" chapter Homenetmen Scouts led
the flag procession and pledge of allegiance. Senator Joe Simitian
was joined by his senate colleagues in solemnly remembering the
genocide. A joint closing reception was also hosted by Krekorian and
Simitian.
"What we see today is really very much the result of the hard
grassroots work that the ANCA-WR has done year after year to try to
energize people, educate people, to engage public officials in
dialogue so that they understand why this issue matters to us but also
why it should matter to them," stated Krekorian.
Also attending the day's ceremonies were Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian
of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and
Primate Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
who delivered the opening prayers during the Assembly and Senate
commemorations respectively. Leading the advocacy day were ANCA-WR
Board Members Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Peter Musurlian, Pattyl
Aposhian-Kasparian and Aida Dimejian. They were joined by ANCA-WR
Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian and ANCA-WR Press
Secretary Ani Garabedian. Also in attendance was Father Vahan
Gostanian.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations
around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.