3000 protesters–demanding recognition for the Armenian Genocide from the Turkish government–gathered at the Turkish Consulate on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles Wednesday.
Despite the ominous clouds above the protesters chanted aloud–demanding recognition and restitution for the Armenian Genocide.
"The Turkish government should have been punished for its crime of genocide," said chairman of AYF–Vicken Sosikian. "The Holocaust–Rwanda–Cambodia–and even 21st century crimes against humanity could have been avoided had the Young Turk government of 1915 been punished."
Many protesters wore red t-shirts with "Demand Recognition for the Armenian Genocide" written on the back–followed by the telephone number and email address of President Bush.
Miko Melkonian–in his post protest address to the protesters–reminded them that the struggle to obtain recognition for the Armenian Genocide is a year round effort that all Armenia’s must unify to work for.
The protest–which has been held now for over two decades–came to a close at about 6:30 with the singing of the Armenian National Anthem.
The protest was one of the several events the AYF organized for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
"Alongside protesting the Turkish government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide–I hope the youth leave the protest with a renewed spirit to seek justice year round for this crime against humanity," said Sosikian.