Contact: Arek Santikian Tel: (559) 908-0417

On April 24, Thousands to Demand End to Cycle of Genocide at Turkish Consulate

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) To Hold April 24th Protest To Commemorate the 94th Anniversary of The Armenian Genocide

What: The AYF is rallying thousands to protest at the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles, demanding an end to over a century of genocide, fueled by Turkey's ongoing denial of its genocide against the Armenian people. Last year, nearly 15,000 activists converged on the Turkish Consulate amid intensified activity by the Turkish government to prevent the U.S. House of Representatives from recognizing the Genocide.

When: The Protest is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. this Friday, April 24, 2009.

Where: The Protest will be held in front at the Turkish Consulate, which is located on 6300 Wilshire Blvd.

Who: Please contact Arek Santikian at (559) 908-0417 for arrangements to speak with: Vache Thomassian, Armenian Youth Federation - Western Region, Chairman.

Why: This year marks the 94th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were annihilated by the Turkish Ottoman Government. It also marks the fifth anniversary of the Genocide in Darfur. The United States has the best chance in a generation to help end the cycle of genocide begun by the Armenian Genocide and recommit the world to the noble and necessary cause of a future without genocide.

This year's protest comes a month after legislators introduced a resolution calling on the President to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. In the last twenty years Turkey has redoubled its efforts to deny its crime by hiring professional lobby firms and such high profile former congressman as Dick Ghephardt, Bob Livingston, and Denis Hastert to bribe US representatives and leaders into staying silent. In the face of overwhelming historical evidence and in spite of these futile attempts, the efforts to secure official US reaffirmation of the historical fact of the Genocide has inched closer to reality this year

As a Senator and as a presidential candidate, President Obama was a strong advocate of proper Armenian Genocide recognition and swift action to stop the Darfur Genocide. "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President," candidate Obama said in a January 2008 statement.

"Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics-displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter-that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915," Obama said."

For more information please e-mail ayf@ayfwest.org

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