ANCA Eastern Region Commemorated 105th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with Virtual Event April 24 – April 26 

Program Honored the Victims of the Armenian Genocide, Saluted Congressional Recognition and Issued a Call to Action for Justice for this Crime

Watertown, MA – The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region hosted a live virtual three-day commemoration, in response to Covid-19 regulations, on its Facebook page honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide, saluting Congressional recognition and demanding justice for this crime against humanity beginning on Friday, April 24 and culminating with a powerful call to action on Sunday, April 26.

On Friday, April 24, U.S. Senators including Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) joined in with their colleagues from the U.S. House including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA), Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) to share their sentiments with their constituents and viewers commemorating the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

These statements not only commemorated the anniversary of the Genocide, but also touched on the importance of the region’s work, which aided in securing passage of Armenian Genocide resolutions in both the U.S. House (H.Res.296) and U.S. Senate (S.Res.150) in October and December 2019. The region’s activists engaged in digital advocacy campaigns, met with congressional offices in their respective districts and on Capitol Hill.

“This year the administration should follow the Senate’s lead in recognizing this tragedy as what it was – a genocide. Acknowledging the truth of this genocide is necessary to prevent it from happening again and I call on President Trump to join us as we work to place real meaning in the words never again,” said Senator Menendez.

Longtime member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and Republican champion of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296) in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Smith added, “The appalling and well-documented facts speak for themselves… Shockingly the government of Turkey continues to trivialize, rationalize and deny the genocide, a cruel slap in the face of the Armenian people, hindering reconciliation and healing.”

Representatives from the Hellenic American Leadership Council, A Demand for Action, In Defense of Christians, as well as the Armenian Youth Federation Eastern Region, Armenian Relief Society Eastern Region, Hamazkayin Eastern Region and Homenetmen Eastern Region offered their remarks. 

While the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide was of the utmost importance throughout the weekend, education and awareness-building were also significant – exhibited by the conversation on genocide education hosted by Dikran Kaligian, Genocide Education Project board member; Lara Nercessian, ANC of Michigan; Pauline Getzoyan, ANC of Rhode Island and GenEd Project’s Roxanne Makasdjian and Sara Cohan. They not only provided an overview of the resources available for teachers, but also the steps taken to ensure that genocide education is taught in all schools. 

“As soon as I saw that genocide education was a part of the program, I immediately thought yes… this is proactive and tangible! As we move through the generations, the challenges of cultural and historical preservation evolve. While I have distinct memories of arguing with teachers who denied the Genocide, I grew up hearing my family’s stories and it never occurred to me to question the legitimacy of those experiences. I did question why our history wasn’t in my textbooks and that weighed on me. I felt that much more responsible for educating others about the Genocide, and let’s be real, that’s a huge and exhausting responsibility. Genocide education gives our communities both a sense of nearing closure as well as the long-awaited opportunity for us to be proactive about our identities beyond the Genocide,” said Meliné Topouzian regarding the genocide education segment. 

New York Times’ Best Selling Author Chris Bohjalian hosted the Friday evening program which featured a regional message from ANCA Eastern Region Communications Director Tamar Gregorian, a keynote message from ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and a conversation on reparations from New Jersey City University Chair of African and African American Studies Jermaine McCalpin, Ph.D. 

McCalpin laid out the necessary steps with regard to the demands for justice for the Armenian Genocide, which includes global recognition. “When we talk about justice, I want you to think of six Rs… recognition… rectification… restoration… rehumanization… reparations… redemption.” He ended his lecture with a powerful message that “justice delayed should not be justice denied… if you are a friend of truth, then you must be a friend of justice because truth and justice are melded together. There is a synergy that is inseparable,” McCalpin emphasized.

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, concluded the evening program with a prayer and special message.

The AYF Eastern Region took over programming on Saturday with first, a message to the current presidential administration demanding recognition of the Armenian Genocide, second, a video highlighting continued Turkish aggression and crimes, third, a powerful testament to the Armenian people’s survival and finally, a call to action from AYF members from around the world. 

On the third and final day of the region’s commemorative program, former MLS Cup Winner and MVP Alecko Eskanderian and ANCA Executive Director Aram Balian revisited the regional commemorations from the past six decades narrated by Tatul Sonentz Papazian, ANC of Eastern Massachusetts; Joe Dagdigian, ANC of Merrimack Valley, Ani Haroian, ANC of Rhode Island; Dikran Kaligian, ANC of Eastern Massachusetts and Karine Birazian Shnorhokian, ANC of New Jersey.

Viewers were then taken on a journey through Western Armenia, with footage curated by George Aghjayan, ANC of Central Massachusetts and narrated by ANC of Greater Washington’s Nairi Balian. The final piece of programming was a powerful message to the world. A message from more than 80 of the region’s activists answering the question “What does justice for the Armenian Genocide mean to me?”

 “The unprecedented shift to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide through a series of virtual events made one thing crystal clear – we won’t be silenced. If there is any silver lining in this pandemic, it’s being granted the gift of time. Time to reflect and celebrate how far we’ve come in our grassroots efforts that resulted in the passage of H.Res.296 and S.Res.150, formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Time to leverage all social channels to continue educating the world until we see it taught in every school across the country.  And lastly, time to stand united and demand absolute recognition and reparations. While we are physically apart, we have never been more connected – and that is how we will get justice for the Armenian Genocide,” said Nora Kizirian, regarding the virtual commemoration.

This weekend’s virtual event was not only an opportunity for ANCA Eastern Region activists to come together to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, but it was also a reminder that the work of the region continues. 

The call for justice is an ongoing process with demands that include worldwide affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, starting with President Trump and from Ankara. This is the first step towards officially ending Turkey’s gag rule on its inhumane crime against the Armenian nation. Justice continues with demands for reparations and for Western Armenian lands to be reunified with Armenia. It is only then will we be able to secure the futures of Armenia and Artsakh.

The three-day virtual event can be viewed here: 

Friday, April 24 11 am EST/Congressional Statements & Partners: https://bit.ly/2VyoHYw

Friday, April 24 4 pm EST/Genocide Education: https://bit.ly/2KrRKq3

Friday, April 24 7 pm ET/Opening Program: https://bit.ly/2VX0El3

Saturday, April 25 Noon EST/AYF-ER Program: https://bit.ly/2XYtBQ4

Sunday, April 26 2 pm EST/Closing Program: https://bit.ly/34Z3w4I

For more information please contact april24@anca.org. 

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The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the Armenian National Committee of America. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. For more information, visit er.anca.org.