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A.R.F. Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-462-3006, Fax: 866-578-1056
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.arfshant.org/
Contact: Chris Minassian
PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2006
Unprecedented Event Demonstrates the Politicized and Unified Activism
of Armenian-American Students Across Southern California Universities
and Colleges
LOS ANGELES, CA - The All-Armenian Student Association Genocide
Recognition Committee (All-ASA GRC) under the chairmanship of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student Association (ARF SSA)
held a rally on Saturday, April 22, 2006 in support of world-wide
recognition for the Armenian Genocide. The event took place at the
Homenetmen Ararat Center in Los Angeles and attracted an estimated
1,000 college students and activists from across the Los Angeles
metropolitan area. The rally, promoted under the theme "Stain of
Denial", was the united genocide commemoration event of the All-ASA.
The rally had a dynamic program that featured live musical and dance
renditions, the showing of an original video documentary about the
Genocide produced by the Shant Student Association, and remarks by
distinguished political, community, and student leaders. In a moving
speech, United States Congressman Adam Schiff advocated for a renewed
sense of urgency in the just pursuit of federal recognition for the
Genocide. He noted that in a couple of years, the last set of Armenian
Genocide survivors will have passed away and it was imperative that
they see justice served for family members massacred by the Ottoman
Turkish government between 1915 and 1923.
Other speakers included Paul Krekorian, President of the Burbank
School Board, and Glendale School Board Member Greg Krikorian. In an
emotional speech, Greg Krikorian expressed his indignation at a recent
luncheon in Beverly Hills featuring Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul. Krikorian, who had managed to enter the luncheon, said he could
barely control his anger as some of the Turkish officials present
at the luncheon began to mock the crowd that had gathered outside to
protest the Turkish government's ongoing denial of the Genocide.
Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Chairman Raffi
Hamparian delivered the evening's keynote address. In his remarks,
Hamparian emphasized the importance of a united effort in achieving
justice for the Armenian Genocide. He also offered appreciation
to Shant and the All-ASA for organizing such an event that brought
together 20 different student organizations for a common cause. But
most of all, Hamparian stressed that all those who believe in justice
must work year-round and not only in the month of April, to ensure
that the first genocide of the 20th century is properly recognized
and its perpetrators are punished.
About the All-ASA and ARF Shant
The primary goals of the All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA) are
to promote cooperation between its Constituent Organizations and create
a united front of Armenian student organizations on the principles
of democracy, equal opportunity, responsibility, accountability, and
transparency. The All-ASA was officially confederated on January 11,
2003 at the General Meeting of All Armenian Student Organizations
in Southern California. There are currently 20 signatory member
organizations in the All-ASA.
The mission of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Shant" Student
Association (ARF Shant) is to bring a higher level of political and
cultural awareness to Armenian students within American Universities
and institutions of higher learning. Shant's goal is to work side
by side with the Armenian Student Associations and other Armenian
Student organizations to further the Armenian Cause. At the last
All-ASA General Meeting, ARF Shant was elected chair of the All-ASA
Genocide Recognition Committee.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-462-3006, Fax: 866-578-1056
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.arfshant.org/
Contact: Chris Minassian
PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2006
Unprecedented Event Demonstrates the Politicized and Unified Activism
of Armenian-American Students Across Southern California Universities
and Colleges
LOS ANGELES, CA - The All-Armenian Student Association Genocide
Recognition Committee (All-ASA GRC) under the chairmanship of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student Association (ARF SSA)
held a rally on Saturday, April 22, 2006 in support of world-wide
recognition for the Armenian Genocide. The event took place at the
Homenetmen Ararat Center in Los Angeles and attracted an estimated
1,000 college students and activists from across the Los Angeles
metropolitan area. The rally, promoted under the theme "Stain of
Denial", was the united genocide commemoration event of the All-ASA.
The rally had a dynamic program that featured live musical and dance
renditions, the showing of an original video documentary about the
Genocide produced by the Shant Student Association, and remarks by
distinguished political, community, and student leaders. In a moving
speech, United States Congressman Adam Schiff advocated for a renewed
sense of urgency in the just pursuit of federal recognition for the
Genocide. He noted that in a couple of years, the last set of Armenian
Genocide survivors will have passed away and it was imperative that
they see justice served for family members massacred by the Ottoman
Turkish government between 1915 and 1923.
Other speakers included Paul Krekorian, President of the Burbank
School Board, and Glendale School Board Member Greg Krikorian. In an
emotional speech, Greg Krikorian expressed his indignation at a recent
luncheon in Beverly Hills featuring Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul. Krikorian, who had managed to enter the luncheon, said he could
barely control his anger as some of the Turkish officials present
at the luncheon began to mock the crowd that had gathered outside to
protest the Turkish government's ongoing denial of the Genocide.
Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Chairman Raffi
Hamparian delivered the evening's keynote address. In his remarks,
Hamparian emphasized the importance of a united effort in achieving
justice for the Armenian Genocide. He also offered appreciation
to Shant and the All-ASA for organizing such an event that brought
together 20 different student organizations for a common cause. But
most of all, Hamparian stressed that all those who believe in justice
must work year-round and not only in the month of April, to ensure
that the first genocide of the 20th century is properly recognized
and its perpetrators are punished.
About the All-ASA and ARF Shant
The primary goals of the All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA) are
to promote cooperation between its Constituent Organizations and create
a united front of Armenian student organizations on the principles
of democracy, equal opportunity, responsibility, accountability, and
transparency. The All-ASA was officially confederated on January 11,
2003 at the General Meeting of All Armenian Student Organizations
in Southern California. There are currently 20 signatory member
organizations in the All-ASA.
The mission of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Shant" Student
Association (ARF Shant) is to bring a higher level of political and
cultural awareness to Armenian students within American Universities
and institutions of higher learning. Shant's goal is to work side
by side with the Armenian Student Associations and other Armenian
Student organizations to further the Armenian Cause. At the last
All-ASA General Meeting, ARF Shant was elected chair of the All-ASA
Genocide Recognition Committee.