Washington, D.C
AYF leads Washington, DC March for Justice for the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC — The Larger Washington DC Armenian group banded collectively on April twenty fourth, demanding justice for the Armenian Genocide and calling on the US authorities cease arming the genocidal regimes of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which proceed their assaults on Artsakh and Armenia.
The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Washington DC “Ani” Chapter led the big demonstration at Sheridan Circle throughout from the Turkish Ambassador’s residence, the place a whole lot converged from all through the area waving Artsakh, Armenian and American flags. A number of yards away, a small contingent of Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities supporters gathered as soon as once more to disrupt the solemn remembrance.
AYF DC “Ani” Chapter chair Areni Margossian supplied opening remarks vehemently highlighting the “new waves of Azeri aggression,” the “black cloud of normalizing relations with Turkey” and the way the Armenian nation will proceed to struggle as “the 1.5 million lives dying toll retains rising annually.” “We owe it to our ancestors. We owe it to our heroes, and we owe it to the way forward for the Armenian nation,” she stated.
AYF DC “Ani” Chapter member and Homenetmen DC scout troop chief Nanar Keurkunian captivated contributors with a strong speech in Armenian. Keurkunian touched on the battle of the common Armenian in comparison with different ethnicities. Whereas many youngsters ask, “Why is the grass inexperienced and the sky blue?,” Armenian youngsters ask, “Why has the grass turned crimson? Like spilled paint however with martyr’s blood? Why once I search for on the sky, I don’t see blue, my eyes begin burning from black clouds which can be coming from burning Armenian houses, who selected fireplace over handing out our lands to the enemy?” She additionally centered on the devastating impression the November ninth, 2020 accord on the finish of the 44-day battle. “Nikol Pashinyan, with one piece of paper, surrendered our sacred lands, alongside our Armenian historical past, our faith, our songs and dances and our heroes, who sacrificed their lives,” acknowledged Keurkunian.
AYF Washington DC “Sevan” Junior Chapter chair Sune Hamparian, for her half, referenced the highly effective message of the AYF anthem “Haratch Nahadag” and inspired the group to “let the beat of our anthem mark our march to justice.”
Following the demonstration at Sheridan Circle, the AYF DC “Ani” Chapter led the group in a 1.5 mile march to the White Home, honoring the 1.5 million lives massacred through the Armenian Genocide and demanding that President Biden cease sending arms and support to Azerbaijan in an effort to stop a second genocide. The group paused on the Armenian Embassy to position Artsakh flags on the fence in protest of the present regime’s ill-fated dialogue with Turkey and Azerbaijan’s genocidal regimes and up to date statements which might relinquish Artsakh sovereignty to Azerbaijan.
Echoing all all through the guts of the nation’s capital on Sunday afternoon have been the Armenian group’s chants “Turkey is responsible of Genocide,” “Biden don’t waive part 907” and “Cease Turkish aggression.” The Armenian tricolor embellished the streets of DC because the revolutionary folks music “Zartir Lao” (Awaken, my baby) was performed all through the march. Passersby stopped to take footage, movies and ask questions concerning the Armenian Genocide and ongoing challenges going through Armenia and Artsakh. In maybe the primary march for the reason that Seventies, the Armenian group of Larger Washington introduced the already busy streets of downtown DC to a formidable halt: ensuring Washingtonians heard the forceful cries for justice.
On the White Home, the group heard remarks from AYF Jap Area Central Govt member Aram Balian, who mentioned the parallels between the Armenian battle in 1915 and right now. “100 seven years in the past, it was Van, Ani and Moush. Two years in the past, it was Shushi and Karvachar. Right this moment, it’s Parukh and Martuni. Tomorrow, it’s Syunik and Meghri,” stated Balian. He challenged Diasporan Armenians “to be the second military of the Armenian folks; to at all times make our voices heard, to make our representatives, our media, our colleagues, our associates, perceive what our nation faces in order that the sacrifices of our folks 107 years in the past and two years in the past won’t have been in useless.” The protest on the White Home concluded with a prayer by Reverend Father Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church and the singing of each the Artsakh and Armenian anthems by the group.
Earlier within the day, Larger Washington DC Armenians gathered at Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church for a memorial liturgy and wreath laying ceremony to honor the sainted martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. The group remembered and mourned survivors who impressed generations with their tales of survival and instilled the eagerness to hunt justice. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee member Ani Tchaghlasian supplied highly effective remarks describing the energy and resilience of the Armenian nation. “We won’t bow to Baku. We won’t bend to Ankara’s will, and we won’t break underneath the specter of Yerevan’s suicidal path,” acknowledged Tchaghlasian.
Armenian Nationwide Committee of America (ANCA) Authorities Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan shared her grandparents’ (Hagop and Siranoush) harrowing escape from Bitlis and cited their “persistence, religion and energy to maneuver ahead on the trail to justice” as their key to Genocide survival. She challenged attendees to proceed on that path, to construct on US recognition by passing the Armenian Genocide Training Act, to make sure future generations study from this tragic chapter of historical past and penalties of its denial. With fists raised in defiance, Yerimyan and attendees pledged to proceed the battle for Armenian Genocide reparations and restitution, on the trail towards a free, impartial and united Armenian homeland.
Referencing the devastating 44 day Azerbaijani and Turkish assault on Artsakh and Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh consultant to the US Robert Avetisyan impressed all to face robust within the face of injustice. “We might have misplaced this battle, however we don’t hand over. The struggle goes on. So long as we don’t hand over, we all know it will lead us to miraculous achievements. We are going to do our greatest to protect our tradition, our final names, our faith and our literature. The struggle should go on.”
The collection of applications commemorating the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide have been organized underneath the auspices of the Larger Washington, DC Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, which incorporates Rev. Father Aktavoukian, the Soorp Khatch Board of Trustees and Girls Guild; ARF Sebouh Gomideh; Armenian Reduction Society (ARS) “Satenig” Chapter; Larger Washington Homenetmen Armenian Scouting and Athletic Affiliation; Larger Washington Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Academic Affiliation; AYF “Ani” Seniors and “Sevan” Juniors; ANC of Larger Washington; and the Hamasdegh Armenian Faculty.
The annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance, organized by Armenian American organizations and the Armenian Embassy, in cooperation with the Congressional Armenian Caucus, will likely be held on Wednesday, April twenty seventh, 6:00pm to 9:00pm, on the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing “Gold Room.” On account of COVID- precautions, participation is restricted to 100 friends. The ANCA will likely be streaming the proceedings on its Fb web page.
Based in 1933, The Armenian Youth Federation is a global, non-profit, youth group of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). The AYF-YOARF Jap United States stands on 5 pillars that information its central actions and initiatives: Academic, Hai Tahd, Social, Athletic and Cultural. The AYF additionally promotes a fraternal perspective of respect for concepts and people amongst its membership. Unity and cooperation are important traits that permit members of the group to work collectively to understand the AYF’s targets.
Right this moment is a day of remembrance, grief, and reflection for the Armenian Nation… https://t.co/akXuZIAGEa – 1 day in the past