“Screamers” documentary screened in Long Beach

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Student Association (ASA) at Cal State Long Beach, CA, showed the documentary “Screamers” last week, about the Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million people were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, according to Jack Chavdarian's article published by daily49er.com.

April 24 marks the 97th anniversary of the Genocide.

The documentary also featured the Armenian-American band System of a Down and their attempt at joining Armenians in fighting for its recognition. Lead singer Serj Tankian’s grandfather was a genocide survivor.

ASA showed the documentary so that younger people could connect with the band, and it would be effective in bringing awareness of the genocide to the CSULB community.

“Not only did it involve an internationally known music group but it also addressed the various issues going around the world which somehow can stem from the non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said Vahan Mezian, president of the ASA at CSULB.

Mezian said recognition of the Armenian genocide is important so that those affected by the issue can finally move forward. “It will allow for the further development of Armenia as a nation and culture,” he said.

The documentary argued that, if the world learned what happened to the Armenians, the Holocaust or Rwandan Genocide could have possibly been prevented. The film featured several of the band’s songs, which they specifically wrote in order to educate people on the genocide.

“We will be asking various students on campus to help post topics concerning the genocide on Twitter or Facebook that day by submitting ‘#1915NEVERAGAIN’ on their social media pages,” Mezian said.

Next year, ASA leaders said they hope to be organized enough to spread recognition of the Armenian Genocide on campus at a bigger scale.