LOS ANGELES–Up to 4,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles on April 23–demanding Turkey recognize its genocide of Armenia’s in 1915.
"The fact that the majority of the participants was youth shows that the youth is still seeking justice and will continue to seek justice–not only from the Turkish government but from the US government as well," said Director of the 2005 Protest–Tro Tchekidjian.
The protest–which has taken place now for close to thirty years–attracts thousands of Armenian-Americans–particularly Armenian youth who converge to demand justice for the Armenian genocide.
It was organized by the western region of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)–under the auspices of the 90th anniversary Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee.
"All of AYF’s programs–projects–and events serve this great cause either directly or indirectly," explained Tchekidjian.
"The lives and memories of our 1.5 million ancestors can never be replaced," said western region AYF chairman–Shant Baboujian. "However–we will be relentless in pursuit of our just rights–from the international recognition and condemnation of the Genocide–to our lands in Western Armenia–and the proper allocations of reparations to the Armenia’s," he explained.
The Armenian Youth Federation of Western United States strives to serve Armenian American Communities west of the Mississippi through education–athletics–political activism–cultural activities and social settings. To learn more about the Armenian Youth Federation please log on to www.AYFwest.org.
