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ANCA ER: Armenian Youth Give a Hand in Stopping Genocide in Darfur

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  • ANCA ER: Armenian Youth Give a Hand in Stopping Genocide in Darfur

    PRESS RELEASE
    Date: June 2, 2008
    Armenian National Committee of America
    Eastern Region
    122 W. 27th St. Floor 12, New York, NY 10001
    Contact: Karine Birazian
    Tel: 917-428-1918

    ARMENIAN YOUTH GIVE A HAND IN STOPPING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

    Prospect, PA-- Hundreds of Armenian youth from the Armenian Youth
    Federation (AYF), Eastern, US gathered at the annual Junior Seminar
    this past Memorial Day weekend to take part in educational,
    athletic, and social activities that are geared towards creating a
    fraternal Armenian atmosphere for all members, reported the
    Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER)

    Among the organized schedule of speakers was ANCA-ER Executive
    Director Karine Birazian who spoke to groups on becoming active on
    Armenian issues and the importance of grassroots mobilization.

    During her lecture entitled "Got Hai Tahd," Birazian focused on the
    genocide in Darfur and why it is critical that Armenian youth
    become involved in attempting to stop it.. "We must be the voice
    for those Darfurians today. In 1915, when Armenians did not have a
    voice, others, who never had even heard of an Armenian, helped,"
    commented Birazian during her lecture.

    Following her lectures, Birazian had the youth place their hands in
    red paint and then on a large cloth provided for them. The
    activity, encourage by Africa Action, is sending a message to
    President Bush that we are all witnesses to the ongoing genocide
    today in Darfur.

    Those present in Birazian's lecture also received information on
    key issues that the ANCA is working on, including economic and
    military aid to Armenia, the nomination of a new U.S. ambassador to
    Armenia, and the current status of the Armenian Genocide
    Resolution. Activists also learned how to call their
    representatives, as well as learning where their Members stand on
    issues of importance to Armenian Americans.

    Following Birazian's lecture, Becca Biesel, an AYF Junior member
    from the New Jersey "Arsen" chapter contacted Birazian over
    Facebook (c) asking for more information on how to contact her
    Congressman. "I decided to call my Congressman because I had
    learned from Karine that not only do we come to Seminar to see our
    friends, but to learn about our Armenian culture. After watching
    her presentation, it made it me feel like I can make a little
    difference. It is very important to have your Congressman's
    support because it makes you feel safe, as well as being a step
    closer in recognizing the Armenian Genocide."

    Among the lecturers were several ANCA activists in leadership
    roles, including: George Aghjayan; ANCA ER Board member: Serouj
    Aprahamian; ANCA Capital Gateway Program Director; Ara Chalian, ANC
    of Pennsylvania Chairman; and Zohrab Khaligian, ANC of Wisconsin
    Chairman, as well as community volunteers.
    ####

    Photo Caption #1: Activists taking part in the handprints for
    Darfur

    Photo Caption #2: Handprints for Darfur
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