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ANCA: Activists Demand Decisive Action on Stopping Darfur Genocide

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  • ANCA: Activists Demand Decisive Action on Stopping Darfur Genocide

    PRESS RELEASE
    Date: May 28, 2008
    Armenian National Committee of America
    Eastern Region
    122 W. 27th St., New York, NY 10001
    Contact: Karine Birazian
    Tel: 917-428-1918

    ACTIVISTS DEMAND DECISIVE ACTION ON
    STOPPING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR
    --ANCA Takes part in Africa Action rally in New York City

    New York, NY--- On May 22, 2008, hundreds of activists gathered in
    front of the U.S. Mission at the United Nations in New York City
    with Darfur advocacy leaders to deliver thousands of handprints and
    messages from all over the country demanding decisive U.S. action
    to end genocide in Darfur and promote peace for Sudan, reported the
    Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA ER).

    "The Armenian National Committee of America will continue to work
    to make sure that action is taken in Darfur. Whether making sure
    that peacekeepers are sent, divestment is taking place amongst the
    various states, or overall awareness is brought about, we must do
    all we can to stop this genocide," commented Karine Birazian,
    Eastern Region Executive Director for the ANCA.

    Speakers included: Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director, Africa
    Action; Eric Gioia, New York City Council Member; Yahya Mohammad
    Osman, Vice President, Darfur Rehabilitation Project; Motasim Adam,
    President, Darfur People's Association of New York; Rev. Fr. Mesrob
    Lakissian, Pastor, St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Church;
    Mohamed Yahya, Executive Director, Damanga Coalition for Freedom
    and Democracy; Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Pastor, House of the Lord
    Church in Brooklyn and head of the National Religious Leaders of
    African Ancestry Concerned about Darfur, and Michael Perlman and
    Jodie Manross who provided an inspirational performance.

    Eric Gioia, New York City councilman, commented "our children will
    say to us in 10 years, in 20 years, when you found out, what did
    you do? And how can any of us look them in the eye and say I did
    nothing. Good people, when good people say they stand for
    something, the question you have to ask them is what are we willing
    to do about it, and if the answer is I am not willing to do
    anything that the sad truth is you don't stand firm."

    Father Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator's Armenian
    Apostolic Church, stated: "we the children and grandchildren of the
    survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 remember that it was the
    kindness of strangers and aid that came from all over the world
    especially from the United States that saved our ancestors. Today,
    we thank God for his deliverance and pledge to make our voices
    heard in the face of evil and injustice¦"

    Cosponsoring the event along with Africa Action were, African
    Services Committee, American Jewish World Service, Armenian
    National Committee of America, Chadian Association of North
    America, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, DarfurMetro,
    Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Darfur People's Association of New
    York, Darfur Vigilers, the ENOUGH Project, Genocide Intervention
    Network, Making a Difference (MAD), NY City Coalition for Darfur,
    Rock to Save Darfur, Shine a Ray of Hope, STAND and TransAfrica
    Forum.

    The U.N. Security Council has primary responsibility to maintain
    international peace and security. The Presidency of the Council
    rotates monthly, according to the English alphabetical listing of
    its member States, and on June 1, 2008, the United States will take
    over the presidency. Over 450,000 people have lost their lives and
    millions have been displaced in the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
    Although the U.S. government has acknowledged this genocide, it has
    failed to take the necessary action to protect the people of
    Darfur. Africa Action, the ANCA, and rally supporters are calling
    on President Bush to assert U.S. leadership in support of a
    multinational intervention to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
    ####

    Photo Captions: Left to Right ANCA ER Director Karine Birazian,
    Father Mesrob Lakissian, and Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of
    Africa Action
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