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Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SYSTEM OF A DOWN PRESS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
DURING THREE-DAY WASHINGTON, DC ADVOCACY TOUR
-- Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan Meet Speaker Hastert; Visit
with Members of Congress; Hold Media Interviews; Host Screening
of New Genocide Documentary; and Join Rally at Turkish Embassy
WASHINGTON, DC - Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan of the Grammy
Award-winning band System of a Down raised awareness, garnered
national press attention on the Armenian Genocide and pressed
legislators for action on legislation condemning this crime during
their three-day advocacy tour of the nation's capital, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Among the highlights of the visit were the following:
* An unscheduled meeting with Speaker Dennis Hastert, during which
Serj reminded the Speaker about the band's past attempts to arrange
a meeting to discuss the Armenian Genocide, briefed him about their
ongoing positive meetings with legislators, and pointed out that
the fate of Armenian Genocide legislation rested in the Speaker's
hands. The Speaker noted that he hadn't looked at the band's
letter yet, but promised to read it.
* A series of strategy meetings with legislators on both the House
and Senate sides of the Capitol. Among those they met with
concerning the adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation were Chief
Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO);
Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the
lead authors of Armenian Genocide legislation before the U.S.
House; Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the Co-Chairman of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, and; Representatives Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA).
* The opportunity to meet dozens of legislators, including House
Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), at the ANCA's annual
Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill on April 26th. This
remembrance, which drew 40 Senators and Representatives, featured
the presentation of the ANCA's 'Voice of Justice' Award to System
of a Down. The band members were joined at this event by David
Alpay, the star of Atom Egoyan's groundbreaking film on the
Armenian Genocide, "Ararat."
* The first-ever screening, on April 25th, of excerpts from
"Screamers," a powerful and innovative new film by Carla Garapedian
about the band's efforts to secure justice for the Armenian
Genocide. The film, which was enthusiastically received by the
Capitol Hill audience, was followed by an extensive question and
answer session.
* A series of media interviews, including an April 25th hour-long
on-air discussion about the Armenian Genocide on DC-101's "Elliot
in the Morning" show, Washington, DC's leading morning radio
program.
* Stories about their advocacy tour appeared in influential
publications across Capitol Hill and around the country, including
the Los Angeles Times and the Gannett News Service. Congressional
Quarterly, the highly regarded weekly publication, ran a story
quoting Serj Tankian stressing that, "for the government to still
deny this historical truth is an absolute travesty." The Hill, an
influential Congressional publication, quoted John Dolmayan as
saying that he would continue his work until Congress recognizes
the genocide: "Even a blade of grass can break through concrete,
and I'd rather be the grass than the concrete."
* Serj and John both took part in an April 24th anti-denial rally
outside the Turkish Embassy organized by the ANCA and Armenian
Youth Federation. Prominent among the more than 1,000 participants
in the rally was Alecko Eskandarian, star forward of the DC United
soccer team.
=============================
Meeting with Speaker Hastert
=============================
The unplanned meeting with the Speaker came on the heels of more
than seven months of efforts by System of Down to schedule a
meeting with him to discuss Congressional recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Last September, Serj and John traveled
personally to the Speaker's district office in Batavia, Illinois,
along with hundreds of their fans, to deliver a letter requesting a
meeting about allowing a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation that
had recently been overwhelmingly approved by the House
International Relations Committee.
Despite these repeated efforts over the course of more than half a
year, the Speaker's office has not scheduled a meeting with System,
nor has he responded positively to a series of meeting requests
from the leadership of the Armenian American community. During
this time period, however, Foreign Agent Registration Act filings
at the Justice Department reveal that the Speaker has met
personally with senior Turkish officials and their lobbyist Bob
Livingston, who is paid close to $2 million a year to oppose
American reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Over 15,000 individual ANCA WebFaxes have been sent from across the
United States urging the Speaker to allow a vote on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution.
===================
System of a Down
===================
The members of System of a Down, Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, John
Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, who are of Armenian descent, all
personally lost family members and family history to the Armenian
Genocide. "Because so much of my family history was lost in the
Armenian Genocide," said Malakian, "my grandfather, who was very
young at the time, doesn't know his true age. How many people can
say they don't know how old they are?" Tankian, Dolmayan and
Odadjian all identify their grandparents' memories as the only
links they have to their respective family heritages, as most of
their families were obliterated during the Armenian Genocide.
Having won a Grammy Award this year, debuted two #1 Billboard
albums in 2005, and having sold over 16 million records around the
world, System of A Down has a tremendous nationwide following and
loyal fan base, who have heeded their call to action on social
justice issues, including support of legislation recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. The band's efforts have gained national press
attention in hundreds of articles appearing in the New York Times,
Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, MTV,
BBC, VH1, ABC, FOX, WB, and Rolling Stone.
#####
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SYSTEM OF A DOWN PRESS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
DURING THREE-DAY WASHINGTON, DC ADVOCACY TOUR
-- Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan Meet Speaker Hastert; Visit
with Members of Congress; Hold Media Interviews; Host Screening
of New Genocide Documentary; and Join Rally at Turkish Embassy
WASHINGTON, DC - Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan of the Grammy
Award-winning band System of a Down raised awareness, garnered
national press attention on the Armenian Genocide and pressed
legislators for action on legislation condemning this crime during
their three-day advocacy tour of the nation's capital, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Among the highlights of the visit were the following:
* An unscheduled meeting with Speaker Dennis Hastert, during which
Serj reminded the Speaker about the band's past attempts to arrange
a meeting to discuss the Armenian Genocide, briefed him about their
ongoing positive meetings with legislators, and pointed out that
the fate of Armenian Genocide legislation rested in the Speaker's
hands. The Speaker noted that he hadn't looked at the band's
letter yet, but promised to read it.
* A series of strategy meetings with legislators on both the House
and Senate sides of the Capitol. Among those they met with
concerning the adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation were Chief
Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO);
Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the
lead authors of Armenian Genocide legislation before the U.S.
House; Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the Co-Chairman of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, and; Representatives Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA).
* The opportunity to meet dozens of legislators, including House
Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), at the ANCA's annual
Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill on April 26th. This
remembrance, which drew 40 Senators and Representatives, featured
the presentation of the ANCA's 'Voice of Justice' Award to System
of a Down. The band members were joined at this event by David
Alpay, the star of Atom Egoyan's groundbreaking film on the
Armenian Genocide, "Ararat."
* The first-ever screening, on April 25th, of excerpts from
"Screamers," a powerful and innovative new film by Carla Garapedian
about the band's efforts to secure justice for the Armenian
Genocide. The film, which was enthusiastically received by the
Capitol Hill audience, was followed by an extensive question and
answer session.
* A series of media interviews, including an April 25th hour-long
on-air discussion about the Armenian Genocide on DC-101's "Elliot
in the Morning" show, Washington, DC's leading morning radio
program.
* Stories about their advocacy tour appeared in influential
publications across Capitol Hill and around the country, including
the Los Angeles Times and the Gannett News Service. Congressional
Quarterly, the highly regarded weekly publication, ran a story
quoting Serj Tankian stressing that, "for the government to still
deny this historical truth is an absolute travesty." The Hill, an
influential Congressional publication, quoted John Dolmayan as
saying that he would continue his work until Congress recognizes
the genocide: "Even a blade of grass can break through concrete,
and I'd rather be the grass than the concrete."
* Serj and John both took part in an April 24th anti-denial rally
outside the Turkish Embassy organized by the ANCA and Armenian
Youth Federation. Prominent among the more than 1,000 participants
in the rally was Alecko Eskandarian, star forward of the DC United
soccer team.
=============================
Meeting with Speaker Hastert
=============================
The unplanned meeting with the Speaker came on the heels of more
than seven months of efforts by System of Down to schedule a
meeting with him to discuss Congressional recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Last September, Serj and John traveled
personally to the Speaker's district office in Batavia, Illinois,
along with hundreds of their fans, to deliver a letter requesting a
meeting about allowing a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation that
had recently been overwhelmingly approved by the House
International Relations Committee.
Despite these repeated efforts over the course of more than half a
year, the Speaker's office has not scheduled a meeting with System,
nor has he responded positively to a series of meeting requests
from the leadership of the Armenian American community. During
this time period, however, Foreign Agent Registration Act filings
at the Justice Department reveal that the Speaker has met
personally with senior Turkish officials and their lobbyist Bob
Livingston, who is paid close to $2 million a year to oppose
American reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Over 15,000 individual ANCA WebFaxes have been sent from across the
United States urging the Speaker to allow a vote on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution.
===================
System of a Down
===================
The members of System of a Down, Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, John
Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, who are of Armenian descent, all
personally lost family members and family history to the Armenian
Genocide. "Because so much of my family history was lost in the
Armenian Genocide," said Malakian, "my grandfather, who was very
young at the time, doesn't know his true age. How many people can
say they don't know how old they are?" Tankian, Dolmayan and
Odadjian all identify their grandparents' memories as the only
links they have to their respective family heritages, as most of
their families were obliterated during the Armenian Genocide.
Having won a Grammy Award this year, debuted two #1 Billboard
albums in 2005, and having sold over 16 million records around the
world, System of A Down has a tremendous nationwide following and
loyal fan base, who have heeded their call to action on social
justice issues, including support of legislation recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. The band's efforts have gained national press
attention in hundreds of articles appearing in the New York Times,
Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, MTV,
BBC, VH1, ABC, FOX, WB, and Rolling Stone.
#####