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California senate committee approves freeway sign for Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial

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Senator Anthony Portantino’s legislation, SCR 25, which will install a sign in Pasadena to direct the public to the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial, passed the Senate Transportation Committee with unanimous support, Asbarez reported.

“Just a few short days ago, at the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial we commemorated the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Hundreds of community members came to the memorial to pay tribute to the victims and to remember the lessons learned from the first genocide of the twentieth century. This kind of community commemoration makes accessibility to this memorial so important. I am proud to carry this legislation that will install a freeway sign to help direct visitors to the memorial, and I am happy to have the unanimous support of my colleagues along the way. Installing a freeway sign will help direct visitors, raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide and serve as a reminder that fighting crimes against humanity is an ongoing process that requires our continuous attention,” commented Portantino.

The Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial was unveiled in April 2015.

Schiff, Garcetti, Newsom, Zimmer to Participate in March For Justice Armenian Genocide

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(Clockwise from top left) Adam Schiff, Eric Garcetti, Gavin Newsom, and Steve Zimmer are four elected officials that will be participating in March For Justice on April 24, 2017 from Pan Pacific Park and ending at the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES—The Armenian Genocide Committee announced on Sunday the line-up of elected officials that will be marching with the collective voice of the Armenian community on April 24, 2017. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Congressman Adam Schiff, Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Los Angeles Unified District School Board President Steve Zimmer will join marchers alongside other elected officials and leaders of the Armenian community, and voice their support in calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the demand for justice.

March for Justice will take place on Monday, April 24, 12 p.m. from Pan Pacific Park to the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles.

Lieutenant Governor Newsom, a staunch supporter of the Armenian Cause, has consistently expressed his commitment to the just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. As Mayor of San Francisco, and throughout his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, his advocacy for a fair, just, and comprehensive resolution of the Armenian Genocide has been based off a foundation of truth and justice. He has called on Congress and the President of the United States to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide numerous times.

Congressman Adam Schiff has been a vocal advocate of the Armenian Genocide on Capitol Hill. His work as a veteran legislator who has consistently and unequivocally called on the Republic of Turkey, fellow members of Congress, and members of the federal government to recognize the Armenian Genocide has made him a strong ally of the Armenian community on capitol hill. His unwavering support of the Armenian cause is coupled with legislative efforts on these efforts.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has been a strong and passionate advocate for the Armenian Community of Los Angeles. As the councilmember representing Little Armenia, Garcetti has always been a great friend and a strong supporter on issues of concern to the Armenian-American community. His many accomplishments include consistently calling upon the U.S. Government to recognize the the Armenian Genocide, helping initiate the sister-city partnership between Los Angeles and Yerevan, advocating for city council to add Armenian language to election ballots and materials, and providing funding to support programs and projects of many community based organizations.

Steve Zimmer has spent seventeen years as an educator and counselor to Armenian students,  developing a high level of understanding of the issues and concerns that are important to his Armenian students and their communities. Since taking office, Steve has demonstrated his ability to implement new policies that advance the interests of his Armenian students and to also uncover corrupt charter schools that are funded by taxpayer dollars, such as the Fethullah Gulen associated charter schools.

The Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC) was established to steer and coordinate the multifaceted commemorative activities for the Armenian Genocide and is composed of eighteen (18) Armenian organizations. The Armenian Genocide marks one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes against humanity. In 1915, the Turkish Government began a premeditated and systematic campaign to dispossess the Armenian population from its ancestral homeland and annihilated 1.5 million defenseless men, women, and children in furtherance of its Pan-Turkic plan to ensure Turkey  is exclusively for Turks.  Turkey must finally acknowledge its responsibility for the Genocide and make appropriate moral, financial, and territorial restitution, as mandated by the fundamental norms of international law and civilized society. The March for Justice on April 24, 2017 and affiliated events will call attention to this crime against humanity, provide a concrete list of demands from Turkey, and push for proposed legislation with U.S. law-makers.

California Senate declares April month of Armenian Genocide Recognition VIDEO

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The California State Senate on April 17 passed Senate Resolution 29 declaring April as a month of Armenian Genocide Recognition, commemorating the Armenian Genocide, calling for Turkey to return historic church properties to rightful congregations and requesting that the United States Government formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, Asbarez reported.

In his floor speech presenting SR 29, State Senator Anthony Portantino outlined the importance of the State Senate’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide for California residents and for the United States. He also shared details of the resilience of the Armenian people by reciting passages from William Saroyan in the Armenian language.

“It is an honor to represent the largest Armenian American community in the country and to be entrusted to appropriately commemorate the Genocide in the State Senate. It is our hope that California’s loud and clear voice once and for all gives Washington and the President the confidence to do the right thing and help people finally have the chance to heal from the horror perpetrated 102 years ago,” commented Portantino.

SR 29 was authored by Portantino and co-authored by the other members of the State Senate California, Armenian & Artsakh Select Committee: Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, Scott Wilk, Tony Mendoza and Josh Newman. Portantino is the Chair of the Select Committee.

In addition to recognizing actress Angela Sarafyan from The Promise on the Senate floor, Portantino and the Senate Select Committee helped facilitate the California Capitol screening of The Promise during Advocacy Day. Academy Award winning Director Terry George from The Promise was hosted at a reception in the State Capitol prior to the passage of SR 29. The State Senate ceremony began with a prayer from Very Reverend Father Dajad Ashekian and Very Reverend Father Pakrad Berjekian. Homenetmen Scouts from Santa Clara Ani Chapter conducted the Pledge of Allegiance and a broad coalition of Armenian American community leaders were introduced by Portantino as part of Advocacy Day during the commemoration.

 

Devastating storm slams southern California

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Violent storms have pounded California, killing at least two people and forcing hundreds to leave their homes. Officials have warned of further downpours in the central part of the state up to the Bay area.

At least two people have died after southern California was pounded by the fiercest storm to hit the state in recent memory.

One man was found dead in a submerged vehicle that had washed up a flooded street in the town of Victorville.

Another man was killed in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles, after a falling tree downed a power line. The line hit the man’s car, electrocuting him.

There were also several reports of deaths on the slick and flooded roads across the state, although officials have been unable to determine which were direct results of the storm.

National Weather Service reported of “possible impacts due to potentially widespread heavy rain include flooding for urban areas and small streams, flash flooding with mud and debris flows.” Particularly at risk locations are those near recent burn areas, and mud- and rockslides near canyon walls, the weather agency said.

At one point, the National Weather Service said it recorded a wind gust approaching San Diego Country at a speed of 120.7 kph (75 mph).

The storm, which could be the worst to hit sourth California since 1995, is expected to last through Saturday, while further downpours are expected in the northern part of the state by the end of the week.

Household and travel disrupted

Los Angeles fire officials said some 150 electonic lines had been downed, leaving about 150,000 people in the city without power.

Meanwhile, over 200 residents in the city of Duarte, located around 32 km (20 miles) east Los Angeles on the foothills of the San Gabirel Mountains, were ordered to evacuate their homes late on Friday out of fear of mudslides. Officials also issued voluntary evacuations for a number of residents in Camarillo Springs, north of LA.

Torrential rain also impacted travel across California, ravaging roads and forcing several stretches of highway to close, including busy arteries such as Interstate 5 and Interstate 10. More than 300 arriving and departing flights at Los Angeles International Airport were also cancelled.

Armenian genocide has long been largely hidden: Now, California schools might change that

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armenia-genocide-simbBy ,

“New history lessons adopted by the California Board of Education this year may especially resonate with Fresno students and families,” Mackenzie Mays writes in an article published by The Fresno Bee.

Schools are now required to teach about the Armenian genocide – an important history in the Fresno area, which has a large Armenian American community. Teachers also are to provide information on the “unprecedented American humanitarian response” to the genocide: relief efforts raised more than $117 million in the aftermath, saving more than 1 million refugees.

The new content, which is more inclusive and aims to teach students to think critically about historical events, is expected to show up in textbooks by 2018.

“Turkish authorities first arrested hundreds of Armenian intellectuals who eventually were killed. The remaining Armenians were ordered onto death marches into the Syrian desert, during which they were subjected to rape, torture, mutilation, starvation, holocausts in desert caves, kidnapping and forced Turkification and Islamization,” reads the curriculum framework for California’s 10th-graders.

“The Armenian genocide has been ignored in history textbooks,” said Barlow Der Mugrdechian, director of Fresno State’s Center for Armenian Studies. “I know several local teachers who have already been providing materials on it, but it’s absolutely essential for all teachers. It brings to light an example of how government can choose to go down a path toward genocide and what conditions allow that to happen.”

Der Mugrdechian pointed to Adolf Hitler’s quote before invading Poland, in which he asked who remembered the annihilation of the Armenians – leading many to believe that it encouraged him to proceed with plans to kill millions of Jews.

That alone “is a clear statement about the necessity to remember history,” Mugrdechian said.

Fresno Unified school board member Brooke Ashjian’s great-grandmother survived the Armenian genocide. He says contributions made by Armenian Americans have shaped the city and beyond, pointing to famous writer and Fresno native William Saroyan.

“It’s a valuable lesson because it’s something you don’t want to repeat,” Ashjian said of the Armenian genocide. “Armenian people are resilient.”

University of California, Irvine: Selects Houri Berberian as Chair of Armenian Studies

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Houri Berberian (Photo: UCI Armenian Studies School of Humanities)

Houri Berberian (Photo: UCI Armenian Studies School of Humanities)

Houri Berberian joins UCI’s School of Humanities as Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies

Berberian to lead development of integrated study of Armenians and Armenia at UCI

IRVINE, California: September 29, 2016 – After an extensive national search, the University of California, Irvine has selected Houri Berberian for its Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies. Vahe and Armine Meghrouni, ardent supporters of the UCI School of Humanities, with additional backing from the local Armenian-American community, established the $2M chair in 2014 with a $500,000 match from the UC Office of the President. The endowed chair provides a dedicated source of funds, in perpetuity, for Berberian’s scholarly activities as well as support for graduate student fellowships.

“We are thrilled to have Houri Berberian join us as the Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies and deeply grateful to the Meghrouni family for making this position possible,” said Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean of the UCI School of Humanities. “Armenia’s rich and complex 3,000-year history and culture, both in its homeland and diaspora, provides an incredible opportunity for UCI’s students to develop a meaningful and critically-global perspective.”

Berberian joins UCI from California State University, Long Beach, where she was a professor of Middle Eastern history and director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program. Berberian’s research interests lie in Iran, specifically Armenian participation in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, which is the topic of her first book. Her interests also include Iranian-Armenian women’s education and activism and issues of Iranian-Armenian identity and memory. Her current project is a connected-histories approach to the early twentieth-century revolutions in the Russian, Iranian, and Ottoman empires explored through the circulation of Armenian revolutionaries, arms, print, and global ideologies like constitutionalism and socialism. Berberian will work closely with the UCI School of Humanities’ faculty and lecturers in Middle and Near East studies as well as Russian and Soviet studies to develop a comprehensive approach to the study of Armenian history, tradition and culture.

“I am both honored and excited to join UCI as a professor in the Department of History and Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair. I envision developing the Armenian Studies Program into a forward-looking and dynamic center for both undergraduate and graduate training in the field,” said Berberian. “I am particularly eager to collaborate with my colleagues in adjacent fields at UCI and other UC campuses as well as with other Armenian Studies Programs. I very much look forward to contributing to the intellectual and cultural life of the wider community through organizing public events, including lecture and academic conferences.”

Studies in Armenia first began at UCI in 2007 with support and guidance from forward-thinking community member Sylvie Tertzakian, and under the leadership of UCI history professor and Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies and Culture Touraj Daryaee. In 2013, the Meghrounis endowed the Vahe and Armine Meghrouni Lecture Series, a quarterly lecture series that brings Armenian historical and cultural topics of interest to all in the broader Orange County community.

Drs. Armine and Vahe Meghrouni were born in America of Armenian parents, but in their public schooling they found it difficult to learn about their heritage. “Being in an imperfect world, we experienced being anonymous as Armenians. We, in our formal education, could find little about our identity as descendants of Armenians, a people with a continuous history for three millennia,” said Vahe Meghrouni. 
“While other ancient civilizations have ceased to exist, Armenians remain worldwide, despite the misfortune that almost every historic invader in history passed through and occupied their homelands. The Armenians maintained their culture as well as their language and contributed expertise in diverse spheres of human endeavors. They have sustained an accomplished presence in the regimes resulting from foreign invasions as well as in an ensuing Armenian diaspora,” Meghrouni said. “Because the history is so complex and long, the Armenian Studies Program at UC Irvine must do a great amount of work in educating present-day society as to who Armenians are and what the culture represents. We give thanks to UCI and the School of Humanities for their commitment in this groundbreaking effort. As we look forward to great success of Armenian studies under her leadership, we are grateful to have Houri Berberian join UCI as the Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair In Armenian Studies.”

For more information on Armenian studies at UCI, please visit http://humanities.uci.edu/armenianstudies/

 

California college students thank the soldiers of Artsakh

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Armenian Sitestudent-thanks soldiers Hetq published the drawings and thanks to American-Armenian schoolchildren fifth class given to young soldiers of Artsakh.

Dear soldiers, I wish you success. I hope you will defend our land. You spend your life for the country, so the Karabakh, Artsakh and Armenia are still with us. With love. Ani Mardirossian.

Dear fellow Armenian. You are doing a very important job because you are always fighting for us. You bring us happiness when we hear that you left your families to fight for us. With love. Eva Mansourian.

I am grateful because you defend our country so well. You are very brave because you sacrifice your life for us. I love you all. Lucy Gouljian

Hello, my name is Garen and I appreciate that you protect the Armenians. I think about you all the time soldiers and pray that you stay safe. Garen Minassian

Thank you to fight for us and our country and against the Azeris. Love, Alex Kechedjian.

Photos: Hakob Poghosyan

Pasadena, California: Judge Calls Erdogan ‘Crazy President’ In Court Hearing on Armenian Lawsuit

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Harut sassounian 740BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in Pasadena, California, on August 4, regarding two lawsuits on Armenian properties confiscated by Turkey in 1915-23: Bakalian and Davoyan vs. the Republic of Turkey and its Central and Ziraat Banks. A District Court had dismissed these lawsuits in 2013 on grounds that they dealt with a political issue which came under the purview of elected officials, not the courts.

The Armenian plaintiffs were represented by Kathryn Lee Boyd of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and Mark Geragos of Geragos & Geragos. The Turkish side was represented by Neil Soltman of Mayer Brown. The panel of federal appeals court judges consisted of Alex Kozinski, Stephen Reinhardt, and Kim Wardlaw.

The three Judges stated that since a sovereign country has the right to appropriate the property of its citizens, a U.S. court would not have jurisdiction to intervene in such cases unless they were accompanied by violations of international law or genocide.

Judge Kozinski repeatedly questioned the appropriateness of the references to the Armenian Genocide as one of the two Armenian cases had mentioned it as one of the reasons for the lawsuit. “Our government has resisted calling this a genocide. Our government has been quite adamant, as far as I can tell, that this is not genocide,” Judge Kozinski contended. “Federal Courts have to take a position that is possibly contrary to the position that has been adhered to by our government, the Executive Branch of our government, for decades.”

When Geragos advised Judge Kozinski that the U.S. House of Representatives and Pres. Reagan had both acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, Judge Kozinski oddly responded: “Pres. Reagan hasn’t been President for … decades.”

The Judge’s comment made no sense. The facts of the genocide and its acknowledgment have not changed, just because those tragic events and their recognition occurred decades ago! In fact, the U.S. government acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in 1951 in an official document submitted to the World Court.

Throughout the hearing, Judge Kozinski persistently asked if the plaintiffs’ attorneys would agree to set aside the Armenian Genocide issue for purposes of this lawsuit. Attorney Geragos finally consented in order to pave the way for the lawsuit to proceed, particularly since there were a dozen other Turkish violations of international law that fulfilled the requirements of jurisdiction.

Attorney Boyd pointed out that it is not necessary to prove genocide in order to bring a lawsuit under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA) of 1976. Actually, “Crimes against Humanity” are also violations of international law. On May 29, 1915, France, Great Britain and Russia issued a Joint Declaration accusing Turkish government officials of committing “Crimes against Humanity and Civilization” and warned that they will be held responsible for these crimes.

Judge Kozinski also questioned the reason why these lawsuits were filed 100 years after the fact, prompting Geragos to assert that there was no statute of limitations under FSIA. He further stated that the elapsed time made no difference, since there was an “on-going violation” because Turkey kept these properties and did not turn over the accrued rents to the Armenian owners for decades.

Geragos also told Judge Kozinski that the concept of a sovereign nation appropriating the properties of its own citizens does not apply in this case, since Armenians were stripped of their citizenship by official Turkish decrees, and deported from the country.

Only after attorney Boyd explained to Judge Kozinski that the confiscation of Armenian properties by the Turkish government was “arbitrary and discriminatory,” the Judge seemed to understand the issue and proceeded to tell Neil Soltman, the attorney for the Turkish Government, that there was a difference between appropriating a house in Connecticut under eminent domain and the taking of all houses belonging to a particular race or religion which would be a violation of international law, and therefore legally actionable by a U.S. court.

Finally, a seemingly casual remark by Judge Wardlaw, referring to Turkish President Erdogan as “this crazy President,” may be an indication that U.S. government officials are getting fed up with Erdogan’s ‘crazy’ antics and would henceforth allow the justice system to proceed with cases dealing with gross Turkish violations of human rights and not hide behind politically motivated judicial cover up.

The Federal Court of Appeals is expected to issue its decision within the next 90 days.

California State Board of Education Adopts Expanded Armenian Genocide Curriculum

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education genocideSACRAMENTO—During its July 14 meeting, the California State Board of Education (“CSBE”) adopted a new History-Social Studies curriculum framework which will serve as guidelines for public school teachers. This framework provides significant improvements and expanded language and scope of information regarding the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR).

The additions regarding the Armenian Genocide were a result of collaborative work between the ANCA-WR, the Genocide Education Project (“GenEd”), the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), Superintendent Tom Torlakson, and a culmination of the initiative taken by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D – San Fernando Valley) and the Armenian Legislative Caucus beginning with the Armenian Genocide Education Act (AB 1915), initiated by principal author Nazarian, which was signed into law in 2014.

“Genocide education has been a top priority for the ANCA-WR and the adoption of the new curriculum framework, with the additional language regarding the Armenian Genocide, will further students’ understanding of crimes against humanity and provide them with greater context regarding the interconnection of such historical events, beginning with the Armenian Genocide.  We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the State Board of Education, the IQC, Superintendent of Public Schools Tom Torlakson, our Education Committee, GenEd, Assemblymember Nazarian, and the Armenian Legislative Caucus for their commitment and leadership as well as UTLA, SEIU, LAUSD, President Zimmer and the thousands of organizations, officials, leaders, and community members who submitted letters of support, making the language additions possible,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan.  “We look forward to continuing our work with the Department of Education, Superintendent Torlakson and GenEd through our Education Committee to make the necessary changes in the textbooks that are reflective of the new curriculum framework and ensure that the Armenian Genocide is taught in every classroom throughout the Golden State and beyond,” added Asatryan.

“I want to thank all the groups and individuals from the Armenian community who took the time to get involved in this process,  make so many great comments and attend numerous meetings,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. “This was an inclusive public effort to broaden knowledge of this terrible period in history, learn more about world events, and deepen our students’ understanding of the Armenian experience. California students will be better prepared to succeed in 21stcentury careers and college because of the contributions made in our updated History/Social Science Frameworks,” he added.

Representatives of the Armenian American community and the ANCA – WR, including Asatryan and Chief Legislative Consultant Haig Baghdassarian were in Sacramento to testify when the Board of Education deliberated adoption of the History-Social Studies Curriculum Framework. Assemblyman Nazarian traveled especially to Sacramento, in the midst of the legislature’s summer recess, to have his voice and those of his constituents heard by the Board.

The ANCA – WR, the Genocide Education Project, and the Armenian Legislative Caucus, in coordination with GenEd, led the way in ensuring that the IQC proposed, and that the Board of Education adopted an accurate and comprehensive treatment of the Armenian Genocide. Nazarian led the efforts of the Armenian Legislative Caucus, and his efforts were supported by Assemblymen Katcho Achadjian (R – San Luis Obispo) and Scott Wilk (R – Santa Clarita).

Beginning in September of 2015, the ANCA-WR, Genocide Education Project, Assemblymember Nazarian and the Armenian Legislative Caucus submitted proposed language changes and additions to the current curriculum framework and attended the IQC hearings to advocate for those proposals.  Submitted proposed language additions and changes may be found online at www.ancawr.org/CAGenocideEducation.  Just days before the July 14 meeting, the ANCA-WR also launched a letter campaign, which resulted in over 2,000 support letters being submitted to the SBE on the subject from elected officials, organizations, educators, officials, and residents throughout California.

“This is a watershed moment; education and vigilance are the keys to banishing the act of genocide to exist solely in the pages of history books,” stated Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian. “I am proud to have lead the legislative charge to pass the Armenian Genocide Education Act (AB 1915). The decision by the State of California Board of Education will allow students across California to understand and learn from the Armenian Genocide.”

The revised and newly adopted curriculum framework include:

  1. The addition of key facts regarding the Armenian Genocide and its causes;
  2. Reference regarding the clear link between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust; and
  3. Information regarding the unprecedented American humanitarian response to the Armenian Genocide—during which time, through the first US Congressionally sanctioned humanitarian organization, the Near East Relief, the United States and the American people from every state, raised over 117 million dollars, saved over 1 million refugees, and over 132,000 orphans.

“The Social Studies Framework is critical to the teaching of all content related to Social Sciences, and most important for all Armenians is the factual teaching of the Armenian Genocide and the support role provided by the USA Near East Relief.  To effect change on any framework takes years.  The ANCA-WR Education Committee started this work 2 years ago, and has teamed up with leaders in Genocide Education and elected officials to make certain that students learn the true facts about Genocide. Committee members have taken responsibility to write letters and meet and work with text book publishers to effect the necessary changes.  We are proud of the ANCA-WR staff, elected officials and individuals who gave days and hours of their time to reach this critical goal.  This is a milestone for California Genocide Education and one that should be celebrated.  The work now begins, not only to change the text books to match the frameworks but to also make certain that teachers teach the Genocide content and teach it thoroughly,” noted ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair Alice Petrossian.

Roxanne Makasdjian, a GenEd board member, played an integral role in the process and particularly in recommending language, and was instrumental in obtaining assistance from an authority on Armenian History, Professor Stephan Astourian who is Director of the Armenian Studies Program at UC Berkeley, in order to make sure that the language in the framework will be accurate. Professor Keith Watenpaugh, an Armenian Genocide scholar at UC Davis who specializes in Modern Islam, Human Rights and Peace, offered his expertise to the California History Social Studies Project, which is the organization within the UC Davis History Department which has been tasked with revising the Curriculum Framework.

“The Armenian Genocide is a significant and instructive moment in modern world history, said Makasdjian. “We’re gratified that our work to insure California’s History-Social Studies teachers are given more appropriate guidelines for teaching about it have been successful.”

Asatryan expressed appreciation for the many voices who have lent their support in an effort to enhance Armenian Genocide education in California’s public schools. She stated that “it was heartening to have the full support of exemplary leaders like Superintendent Torlakson and Steve Zimmer, President of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, among many other prominent education leaders and organizations lend their support to our efforts.”  In his letter to the IQC committee, Zimmer noted that “Our curriculum quite literally shapes our students’ understanding of the past and even more significantly prepares them to be the change agents who can build a better future.”

Administrators and educators may obtain lesson plans and teaching materials on the Armenian Genocide by contacting GenEd info@GenocideEducation.org or visiting teachgenocide.org.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the

Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

ANCA-WR Urges Voter Registration in California

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vote registrationAs the deadline to register to vote for the California Primary Elections approaches, Elen Asatryan, the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region issued a letter encouraging voter registration and participation in the Primary Election on June 7.

Below is the text of that letter, titled “A forced to be reckoned with…” in reference to a Los Angeles Times article that called the Armenian-American constituency “a force to be reckoned with.”

Friends,

That subject line says it all. On Friday the LA Times ran a story detailing how the Armenian American vote, led by the ANCA-WR and Hye Votes COULD be key to the 43rd Assembly District race between our highly qualified Ardy Kassakhian and the CCSA backed Laura Friedman, the same organization founded by the current head of the Magnolia charter schools linked to Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen and his movement.

While definitely a positive story, especially when numerous seasoned political consultants describe our community as “a force to be reckoned with,” or “playing at a different level,” there was one key word to focus on: “COULD”

In the end, “COULD” doesn’t count. There is only one word that counts: “WILL”.

Our community WILL be the deciding vote in the 43rd Assembly, the 5th LA County Supervisors, and the 25th State Senate districts by electing Ardy Kassakhian, Ara Najarian and Anthony Portantino respectively, if we take a stand.

We WILL be a force to be reckoned with and we WILL continue to play at a different level because we have people like you, but only if you show up to the front lines.

Election Day is two weeks away, we need you now.

If you’re not registered to vote, register by 11:59pm on Monday, May 23rd. If you are registered, MAKE SURE TO VOTE by either sending in your vote-by-mail ballot today or VOTE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 7th.

Our strength is in our UNITY and making our COLLECTIVE VOICE heard. Spread the word by making sure all your friends and family are registered and ready to vote. We cannot let the special interests silence our community.

As our Chair Nora Hovsepian wrote to you on Friday, the special interests are spending over 1 million dollars in negative and dirty campaign tactics to try to buy the 43rd CA Assembly district seat, but when all is said and done – you hold the power of the outcome with your vote.

The time to act is now.

All election details are available at ANCAWR.org/2016elections

Let’s Rock the HyeVote!

In Common Cause,

Elen Asatryan

Executive Director

P.S- Our staff and volunteers are working around the clock to register community members to vote and get the vote out. Please also take some time to stop by the campaign office to help out, Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. We can use all the helping hands we can get.