Armenian Americans gather to protest Syria strikes

PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 200 community members gathered Monday, Sept 9, at the Glendale Youth Center to join the Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale chapter, MoveOn.org Civic Action, CREDO Action, Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), The Martin Luther King Coalition of Greater Los Angeles and Win Without War, in order to voice their opposition to U.S. military strikes against Syria.

Thousands of people throughout the nation were hosting such vigils.

After a short welcome by ANCA Glendale’s Executive Director, Talar Malakian, and a prayer, Seto Boyadjian, the Chairman of the ANCA National Board, Caro Avanessian, the Chairman of the California Armenian American Democrats, and Glendale Unified School District President Nayiri Nahabedian spoke out against military intervention in Syria by the United States. They stressed the importance of finding diplomatic solutions while also sending more humanitarian aid to suffering communities in need, including over 100,000 Syrians of Armenian descent living in Syria.

Berdj Karapetyan, Chairman of the ANCA Glendale Board concluded with final remarks and asked community members to gather around a board filled with pictures from the Syrian crisis, in the back of the room. After a moment of silence for the lives lost, the lit candles were circulated and everyone was ushered out of the hall and to St. Mary’s Apostolic Church. Many returned to write messages for peace that were pinned to the board. Many also sent emails to their representatives on iPads provided by ANCA Glendale.

“We are gathered to commemorate the lives lost but to also show that we are opposed to more violence. The only way to achieve peace is through diplomacy,” said ANCA Glendale Executive Director, Talar Malakian. “We need to urge our representatives to remember that.”

Community members were supposed to join a delegation to Congressman Adam Schiff’s Hollywood office Tuesday, to urge him to vote against the authorization to strike.