SANTA MONICA – The 10th annual “Cycle Against Denial” bike rally for genocide awareness will be held on Saturday, April 13 in Santa Monica, CA. The event will be hosted by the Armenian Youth Federation – Western United States San Fernando Valley “Sardarabad” Chapter.
“Cycle Against Denial” is an annual bike rally held not only to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, but to also raise awareness for all genocides in a creative and public display. This is the fourth time the event will be held in Santa Monica. In previous years, the bike rally took place in the San Fernando Valley, with the starting point being Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School in Encino, CA.
This year, the organizers have allowed donations to be made in the name of bike rally participants, where proceeds will go toward the Armenian-American Museum. The Museum will be built in Glendale, and will include a permanent exhibition on the topic of the Armenian-American experience. This will include the history of Armenia, the Armenian Genocide, and Armenians living in the United States.
“Cycle Against Denial is a community-wide event meant to bring attention to the atrocities that were committed against the Armenian people and the genocides that have followed since,” said Harut Minasyan, a member of the organizing committee. “Riders of all ages gather in the form of a peaceful protest to inform the public of the events that occurred and to make sure that the victims that paid the ultimate price will not be forgotten. The goal of the bike rally is to demand accountability for the injustice and to highlight that such crimes against humanity will not be tolerated,” added Minasyan.
Following their registration for the “Cycle Against Denial” bike rally, participants are encouraged to ask friends, family and other potential supporters for donations. Donations can be made under the name of the participant, on the AYF-WUS website. The participant with the largest amount of donations will win a complimentary bike. Individuals interested in participating in the rally can register on the website beforehand.
If unable to register online, participants may register on the day of the rally. In-person registration begins at 11a.m, while the ride itself is scheduled to begin at 1p.m. Registration cost is $10 per person, which includes both participation and a commemorative t-shirt. Instructions and context for the event will be delivered by the event organizers before the cycling begins.
The registration table and start of the rally will be located at 1640 Appian Way, Santa Monica, California 90401, on the southern side of the Santa Monica Pier.
- Participants may bring their own bikes, and those who need to rent a bike may do so from rental locations within walking distance of the registration point. These include:
- Sea Mist Rentals: 1619 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401;
- Santa Monica Bike Center: 1555 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401;
- Breeze BikeShare: Santa Monica City-hosted bike share, located at Palisades Park.
- For any questions, please feel free to email sardarabad@ayfwest.org, or visit the Facebook event page.
The Armenian-American Museum and Cultural Center of California is a developing project in Glendale, CA with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian-American experience. The Museum will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenia- American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the world, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian youth.
