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ANCA Launches 'Fierce Urgency of NOW' Anti-Genocide Campaign

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  • ANCA Launches 'Fierce Urgency of NOW' Anti-Genocide Campaign

    Armenian National Committee of America
    1711 N Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel. (202) 775-1918
    Fax. (202) 775-5648
    [email protected]
    Internet www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    For Immediate Release
    March 30, 2009
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918

    ANCA "FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW" CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHTS OBAMA PLEDGE TO
    STOP DARFUR GENOCIDE; RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

    -- Visit www.anca.org/change

    WASHINGTON, DC - On the eve of the April 1st arrival of Genocide
    Prevention Month, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
    today launched a nationwide online and print campaign urging
    concrete action to end the Darfur genocide and full U.S.
    recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

    Echoing Martin Luther King's famous remarks at the Lincoln Memorial
    in August, 1963, the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign urges anti-
    genocide activists across the U.S. to visit www.anca.org/change to
    learn more about the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur and
    how this atrocity fits into the cycle of genocide that started with
    the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The website provide simple
    ways for citizens to call on President Obama to show "unstinting
    resolve" in the effort to stop the Darfur Genocide, by
    participating in Save Darfur "add your voice" effort
    (www.addyourvoice.org). Activists can also call on the Obama
    Administration and Congress to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
    putting to an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey's international
    campaign of genocide denial.

    On Monday, March 30, 2009, full page ads were placed in The
    Politico and Roll Call newspapers, primarily targeting
    Administration and Congressional decision makers in Washington, DC,
    with a powerful graphic bringing together child survivors of the
    Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide into a stark visualization of
    the ongoing cycle of genocide. The photos are juxtaposed with
    President Obama's January, 2008, campaign pledge to the American
    people stating:

    "Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common
    security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in
    Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation,
    and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities
    against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited
    Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust
    multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies
    doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks
    truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to
    all genocides. I intend to be that President."

    To read the complete "Obama file" on Armenian Genocide recognition,
    visit:
    http://www.anca.org/change/doc s/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf

    Companion internet ads will be running on the key political news
    websites www.politico.com, www.thehill.com, and www.rollcall.com -
    which will coincide with President Obama's upcoming two-day trip to
    Turkey on April 6th and 7th.

    This past weekend, over 100,000 postcards were distributed to
    communities and campuses across the U.S. urging activists to visit
    http://www.anca.org/change and take action. These will be
    accompanied by a nationwide mailing program to activate the growing
    anti-genocide constituency across the United States.

    The ANCA's campaign coincides with efforts to have the White House
    designate April as Genocide Prevention month, an initiative
    spearheaded by the Genocide Prevention Project
    (http://www.preventORprotect.org). With successive genocides -
    from the Armenian Genocide and Holocaust to the genocides in
    Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda - commemorated in the month of April,
    GPP has worked with a nationwide coalition of organizations,
    including Save Darfur, the Genocide Intervention Network, Enough
    Project and many others, in spotlighting a month-long campaign of
    activities commemorating past genocides and urging action to stop
    the killing in Darfur. Anti-Genocide activities are listed on a
    special website - www.genocidepreventionmonth.org .

    The official kick-off for Genocide Prevention Month will take place
    on Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00pm at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue,
    600 I Street NW, in Washington, DC. After a 20-minute preview of
    the documentary, "The Last Survivor", former CNN anchor Andrea
    Koppel will moderate a discussion among a group of survivors, anti-
    genocide advocates, policy experts, and the filmmakers.

    Among Genocide Prevention Month activities is the "End the Cycle of
    Genocide" Advocacy Days, organized by the ANCA and Genocide
    Intervention Network - bringing activists to Capitol Hill from April 22nd
    through 24th to urge recognition of the Armenian Genocide and concrete
    action on the Darfur Genocide. The effort coincides with the April 24th
    worldwide commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. To participate
    in ANCA / GI-Net Advocacy Days, register at
    www.anca.org/stopgenocide.

    Individuals can help expand the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign by
    asking friends, family and coworkers to visit www.anca.org/change
    and take action. The effort can be publicized through a number of
    online sharing tools reaching the vast array of social networking
    sites including Facebook and LinkedIn, among others. To promote
    the campaign on college campuses or local communities, contact Garo
    Manjikian at [email protected].
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