Armenian-Americans hold rally against Genocide denial

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian-Americans from across the Greater Washington, DC area called for an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey's genocide denial at a White House rally held just days before President Obama's annual April 24th statement.

The April 21st “Let Your Voice be Heard for Genocide Recognition!” protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation "Ani" Chapter, in coordination with a coalition of Armenian American groups comprising the Greater Washington Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.

"We are all gathered here today to commemorate and bring awareness to what New York Times Best Selling Author of The Sandcastle Girls, Chris Bohjalian aptly called, 'the slaughter you know next to nothing about,'" began AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Narineh Abrahamian. "The United States - President Obama - can play an important role in pressing Turkey to deal honestly with its dark past by speaking truthfully about this crime. Anything less only enables Turkey's continued genocide denial. Anything less makes the United States complicit in that denial. Anything less sends the dangerous message to other despots that they too can get away with genocide," continued Abrahamian.

Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian, relayed the hope of the Armenian American community when then candidate Obama pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the disappointment in the face of 5-years of subsequent U.S. kowtowing to Turkish Government threats. "We are going to be the conscience of this great nation," explained Hamparian. "We are going to put America - if not this April, but eventually - back on the right side on the Armenian Genocide issue and in so doing move American policy back to the right side in dealing with all genocides."