KEF for Kerry / Armenstock 2004 is a campaign rally in celebration of John Kerry’s nomination for President–in the form of a day-long Armenian music festival at Camp Haiastan in Franklin–Massachusetts. Combining a celebration of music with political activism–it brings together some of the best Armenian musicians from both coasts to help kick-off a nationwide voter mobilization and get-out-the-Armenian-vote campaign for the fall of 2004.
The festival will feature a wide range of Armenian musical styles–including–Armenian Jazz–Progressive KEF–Traditional Folk–Alternative Folk and Armenian Pop. There will be a host of informational tables and merchandise booths set up around Camp–manned by an array of Armenian groups and organizations. Traditional picnic food will be available throughout the day at the "Kebab for Kerry" pavilion.
Armenia’s for Kerry is a bipartisan group of Armenian Democrats–Independents–and moderate Republicans who have rallied to elect John Kerry as President of the United States.
Representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America–from the Kerry campaign–together with a number of prominent Armenian writers–intellectuals and artists will address the audience in between musical sets. A more complete line-up of speakers and entertainers will be posted on Armenstock.com sometime around mid-August.
WHY KERRY?
Throughout his 20 year tenure in the Senate–John Kerry has been a principled and effective champion of issues of vital concern to Armenian-Americans. He has led efforts to fight for US recognition of the Armenian Genocide; he cosponsored Bob Dole’s 1990 resolution and is currently a sponsor of S.Res.164. He has led initiatives to lift the Turkish-Azeri blockades of Armenia and authored Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act–has fought to increase aid and expand trade with Armenia (he is currently a cosponsor of SR 1557)–supports the full participation of Mountainous Karabagh in the peace negotiations and has fought to maintain military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In sharp contrast–George W. Bush has repeatedly betrayed the trust of the Armenian community. He has broken his written pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and has actively fought against passage of H.Res.193 and S.Res.164. He pressured Congress to waive section 907–pushed for unprecedented reductions (by 50%) in US aid to Armenia–gave in to the Azeri demand to exclude Nagorno-Karabagh from the peace negotiations and seeks to award Azerbaijan four times more military assistance than to Armenia.
As far as Armenian-American causes are concerned–the difference between the two presidential candidates could not be greater–the choice more stark and the opportunity more clear. PERFORMERS: john bilezikjian–gor mkhitarian–john berberian–ara dinkjian–vardan ovsepian–arto tuncboyaciyan–winds of passion–cascade folk trio FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO HELP OUT WITH THE EVENT CONTACT: Sevag Arzoumanian – Armenia’s for Kerry/New England – sevag@armenstock.com – 617-233-3174 -www.armenia’sforkerry.com; or Raffi Meneshian – Pomegranate Music – raffi@armenstock.com – 617-686-6556 – www.pomegranatemusic.com Purchase tickets online at www.virtuous.com; adults $20 –children and students $10. All proceeds from ticket sales go towards funding the get-out-the-Armenian-vote campaign for November 2004.