LOS ANGELES–Around 1500 people gathered at the US Federal Building on Friday demanding official US recognition of the Armenian genocide and a just resolution to the Armenian Case. The Rally for Justice and Truth–which took place at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM–was organized by the United Human Rights Council (UHRC).
The presence of numerous youth inspired Raffi Hamparian–who spoke on behalf of Armenian National Committee to tell the crowd: "Some nations have treasures of gold; some nations have treasures of oil. The Armenian nation has its youth–and the youth will deliver justice to the victims of 1915."
Lifelong community activist and Glendale Board of Education member Greg Krikorian addressed the great input Armenia’s have had in defending the most valuable of American ideals.
"We as Armenia’s and Americans have spilled our blood defending the most precious ideal of freedom of this great nation of America?have served shoulder to shoulder with US armed forces in WWI–the Korean War and Vietnam War–and most recently in the Persian Gulf. And though we have dedicated our lives to this nation–this nation still can’t recognize the Genocide?We do not only want recognition. We have not marched for 90 years just for that. We demand reparations–which include the return of Western Armenian lands; the only debate that remains is the amount of reparations."
He stressed that Armenian Americans have sacrificed and committed too much to accept a word–recognition.
Speaking on behalf of UHRC Myrna Douzjian spoke in Armenian–saying "Turkey blatantly continues its criminal policy with its policy of denial; after all–to deny a crime is to perpetuate the atrocity."
She stressed that several parliamen’s throughout the world have adopted legislation officially recognizing the Genocide–the latest being Poland. "However–as Armenian Americans we still await our elected officials–our Senators and Representatives to ‘recognize’ a just cause–to denounce the genocide of Armenia’s–and to exert pressure on Turkey to pay reparations to Armenia’s."
Douzjian said that Armenian Americans–citizens of the United States expect the Administration in Washington–DC to uphold justice and principals of human rights. "We–justifiably expect the White House to pressure Turkey to come to terms with its past and accept its genocide of Armenia’s and pay reparations for its crime. Only then can we consider the Armenian-Turkish matter resolved."