Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian Youth Federation Western United States Garo Madenlian Public Affairs Office announced that close to 5000 protestors gathered at the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon demanding Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The youthful crowd of protestors picketed in front of the Turkish Consulate spanning across two blocks of Wilshire Blvd. With such signs as “Genocide Unpunished is Genocide Encouraged,” and “Turkey stop historical Revisionism.”

“The Canadian government officially recognized the Armenian Genocide earlier this week,” said Sevag Garabetian, Director of the Protest. “We are thankful for their ability to classify truth and justice above special interests and are hopeful that our government, here in the US, will follow suit shortly,” explained Garabetian.

About two hours after marching across the Turkish Consulate, the protestors gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate, where Vicken Sosikian, chairman of the AYF Western Region addressed the crowd from atop of a cargo truck, make shift stage.

Emphasizing on the fact that over 80% of the gathered protestors at the Turkish Consulate were youth, Sosikian said that this generation, along with future generations of Armenian American youth will continue its demands for the return of Western Armenia, proper reparations, and justice.

The Turkish Consulate protest, which has been organized for the last thirty years attracted all major broadcast and print media and concluded with the singing of the Armenian National Anthem.
The success of the Turkish Consulate protest can be credited to a committee of about 10 AYF members planning the protest for over five months and over 100 AYF members helping with crowd control,” said Marie Minassian, chairperson of the Protest Organizing Committee. “The Turkish Consulate protest is one of many forms of political activism organized by the AYF throughout the course of the year,” explained Minassian.