Executive Producers of Armenian Genocide Documentary Join ANCA in Advocating Passage of H.Res.220 and S.Res.136
WASHINGTON—Internationally acclaimed celebrity activists Dean Cain and Montel Williams—executive producers of the powerful anti-genocide documentary “Architects of Denial”—joined the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) on Capitol Hill last week in calling on U.S. legislators to reject Turkey’s gag rule and adopt legislation (H.Res.220 and S.Res.136) applying the lessons of the Armenian Genocide to the prevention of future atrocities.
Dean Cain and Montel Williams with Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Dave Trott (D-Calif.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and David Valadao (R-Calif.), joined by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) (Photo: ANCA)
The meetings with over a dozen senior legislators, Republican and Democrat, took place around the Sept. 26 Washington D.C. premiere of “Architects of Denial,” held at the U.S. Naval Memorial before a capacity crowd of policymakers, diplomats, and D.C. influencers.
“We were honored to be joined on Capitol Hill by Dean Cain and Montel Williams, two of America’s most eloquent and effective human rights advocates, in challenging U.S. legislators to—at long last—reject Turkey’s gag rule against honest U.S. remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “As they made so very clear, in their film and across the Hill, no nation—especially as one as hostile as Turkey—deserves a veto over U.S. human rights policy.”
Dean Cain and the ANCA’s Aram Hamparian and Raffi Karakashian discussing the Genocide Prevention Resolution (H.Res.220) with Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) (Photo: ANCA)
Cain and Williams reminded legislators that genocide denial leads to it perpetuation, and connected the Armenian Genocide with ongoing official Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and Artsakh. Among the legislators who took the opportunity to discuss the legacy of the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s denial on the geopolitical realities of today were House Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), and Representatives from throughout the U.S., including Reps. Kevin Kramer (R-N.D), Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Louis Gohmert (R-Tex.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), among others.
Cain and Williams also discussed efforts to secure passage of the Armenian Genocide legislation with Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Dave Trott (R-Mich.), and David Valadao (R-Calif.) and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), some of whom recently returned from a trip to Armenia and Artsakh.
Dean Cain and the ANCA’s Aram Hamparian and Raffi Karakashian discussing “Architects of Denial” with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) (Photo: ANCA)
On Sept. 27, Cain talked to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson regarding ongoing efforts to suppress broad-based distribution of “Architects of Denial,” including the since-resolved advertisement controversy at the Americana Shopping center, in Glendale, California.
Watch the Fox News interview below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjHshm1I9M?feature=oembed&w=620&h=349]
Earlier, on Sept. 26, Williams was a guest on the CBS program Great Day Washington, where he discussed the real, ongoing impact of genocide denial. “The Armenian people have been the subject of persecution now for close to a hundred years, and no one wants to recognize it,” stated Williams. “So this movie is about the Genocide and the Armenian people, but it’s also about the bigger discussion about what’s going on in this world.”
Watch excerpts of Great Day Washington:
‘Architects of Denial’ Available On-Demand and Opening in over 10 Cities October 6th
Cain and Williams’ “Architects of Denial” will be holding its Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 6 to a sold-out audience, as the ANCA Western Region kicks off its Grassroots Conference.
With powerful footage from the Armenian Genocide and ongoing attacks against Armenia and Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the documentary includes testimonials from Wikileak’s Julian Assange; historians Dr. Greg Stanton, Dr. Taner Akcam, and Dr. Ugur Ungor; Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA); whistleblower Sibel Edmonds; publisher Harut Sassounian; and eyewitness accounts by Aregak Bagirian, Movses Anehyan, and Yepraksi Gevorgyan.
The film will be premiering on October 6 and playing through October 12 in the following cities and venues. To reach the maximum audience, producers have opted to make the film available on demand at the same time on national cable outlets, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango Now. For more information, email info.AODthefilm@gmail.com
To view the “Architects of Denial” trailer and for more information, visit: architectsofdenial.com
Architects of Denial, Oct. 6-12, Theater Listing
California
Pacific Glendale 18
322 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
http://www.pacifictheatres.com/glendale/
Laemmle Music Hall
9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif. 90211
https://www.laemmle.com/theaters/4
Roxie
3117 16th Street, San Francisco, Calif.
http://www.roxie.com/ai1ec_event/architects-of-denial/?instance_id=22928
Colorado
AMC Highlands Ranch 24
103 W Centennial Blvd, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/denver/amc-highlands-ranch-24
D.C.-Maryland-Virginia
AMC Hoffman Center 22
206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/washington-d-c/amc-hoffman-center-22
Illinois
AMC South Barrington 24
175 Studio Drive, South Barrington, Illinois 60010
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/chicago/amc-south-barrington-24
Massachusetts
Embassy Cinema
16 Pine Street, Waltham, Mass., 02453
https://www.landmarktheatres.com/boston/embassy-cinema/film-info/architects-of-denial
Michigan
AMC Forum 30
44681 Mound Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan 48314
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/detroit/amc-forum-30
Minnesota
AMC Eden Prairie Mall 18
8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Suite 4000 Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/minneapolis-st-paul/amc-eden-prairie-mall-18
New York
Village East Cinema
181-189 2nd Ave., New York, N.Y.
https://www.citycinemas.com/villageeast/film/architects-of-denial
Pennsylvania
AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24
2121 Route 38, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/philadelphia/amc-loews-cherry-hill-24
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Challenging Genocide Denial in D.C.: Dean Cain and Montel Williams on Capitol Hill ahead of ‘Architects of Denial’ Release