BEVERLY HILLS, CA–On April 24, 2009, millions of Armenians had their hearts broken by a leader who they believed represented change and hope.

President Barak Obama disappointed his Armenian American supporters by neglecting to keep his campaign promise to honor and recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915 as a true genocide. Instead, he washed his hands of the situation by pushing the responsibility to the Turkish and Armenian government and shamelessly skirting away from an issue that truly holds in its core all of morality. While the disappointment was sever, the perseverance and determination of the Armenian American people did not deter.

On Wednesday May 27, hundreds gathered around the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California to remind the President of his broken promise as he hosted a Democratic Party fundraiser. Joining them were hundreds of other activists demonstrating for gay rights and an end to the war in Iraq and torture.

Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation and the “Shant” Student Association, the demonstration sought to urge Obama to honor his campaign promises to an Armenian American Community disappointed with at the President’s failure to properly characterize the Genocide.

“We are gathered here to remind the President of his campaign promise to properly and justly recognize the Armenian genocide,” said Arek Santikian, a spokesperson for the AYF.“We heard about his visit to Los Angeles about three days ago and mobilized as many people as we could even though it was short notice and a difficult time of the day.”

As the Armenian Americans gathered and chanted “94 years no more tears” and “Obama, keep your promise,” their loomed a genuine sadness amongst all of them who had firmly believed this year—and this president—would have seen an end to the Turkish gag-rule on America’s position on this fundamental human rights issue.

This dissatisfaction, however, has not taken away from the hope and faith instilled within the hearts and minds of every Armenian-American—a feeling so deep rooted that expecting anything other than absolute fortitude and resilience would go against all that they stand for.

“We know he is hearing our voices and will eventually do the right thing,” Santikian said.

And President Obama did hear the voices. In a speech given that same day at the Democratic fundraiser, he said to his audience that one of the protestors said, “Obama, keep your promise”, to which he responded, “I thought that’s fair. I don’t know which promise he was talking about.”

If Obama genuinely wants to listen to the people and live up to the example he himself set, then we should hold him accountable for not following through on his word. With a comment such as that, it is up to every single Armenian American to make sure the President knows exactly who was chanting “Obama, keep your promise!” and why.

For Meher Aboolian, a young demonstrator who made the drive from Glendale to West Los Angeles, this issue is a fight for truth. “I want to see the end of denial within the country of which I am a citizen,” he said.

Interestingly, Armenian-American’s were not the only ones demonstrating against Obama’s failure to keep his promieses. Susan Adelman, a mother protesting for the anti-war organization Code Pink, said that there “is an encompassing lack of major promises not being kept. Whether we’re here to protest against war or the recognition of a genocide, we stand here as reminders of what we believed in when he was campaigning and how closely to our hearts we held these issues.”

Another demonstrator, Marcy Winograd also supported the Armenian-American community’s concerns regarding the denial of the Genocide. Winograd plans on running against South Bay Congresswoman Jane Harman in the June 2010 election. Harman is an infamous Genocide denier who, after signing on as a cosponsor to the Genocide Resolution in 2007, lobbied her colleagues to pull their support from the legislation.

Speaking to Asbarez, Winograd expressed sincere concern and dedication to the cause for Genocide Recognition. When asked how she felt about President Obama’s failure to recognize the crime, she said, “I believe that the lack of recognition is a sign of making invisible your citizens and as a public official who is responsible for the people, it shows a sign of irresponsibility.”

While the anti war protesters held up their signs and gathered to call for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Armenians, as they always have in the past, brought voices, spirit and valiancy to the collage of activists demonstrating across from the President.

Dr. Ara Khanjian discusses the history of the American labor movement as part of the Crescenta Valley "Zartonk" AYF's "Blueprint for Progress" educational series. Photo by Vache Thomassian.

The eight-hour day, sick leave, paid vacation, maternity leave, elimination of child labor, overtime pay, minimum wage laws, and even the weekend—these are just a few of the many benefits that society enjoys today thanks to the struggle of workers and the untold sacrifices of the American labor movement.

In order to shed light on the history and goals of this important movement, the Crescenta Valley “Zartonk” chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation hosted a community lecture this past Sunday featuring Dr. Ara Khanjian, Professor of Economics at Ventura College. This discussion centered on the history of organized labor and was the first installment in the chapter’s “Blueprint for Progress” educational series, an ongoing set of community lectures which will highlight themes and issues stemming from a progressive agenda.

“Dr. Khanjian really exposed us all to a new issue, and his presentation explored so many different facets of organized labor,” said Aris Hovasapian, Chair of the AYF “Zartonk” Chapter. “I have no doubt that everyone that was present learned something new about an issue that is at the forefront of American politics.”

The talk began with a review of some of the basic reasons behind why workers organize. Dr. Khanjian noted how the essential interest of employers is in maximizing their profit while employees, on the other hand, seek to improve their wages and working conditions. Given their relative powerlessness in comparison with those who hold the means to employ them, workers soon realize the importance of coming together and standing up for their rights through collective action. They form unions to leverage their demands and defend their interests on a more equal footing with those who control their workplace.

Given this empowering effect that organizing has on the working masses, it is no surprise that employers tend to be naturally antagonistic towards workers unionizing. Khanjian explained how unions are seen as a threat to profit and are often fought tooth and nail by employers. The cases of McDonald’s and Wal-Mart eliminating entire locations and departments simply due to unionizing efforts were presented as illustrations of this often extreme hostility by employers against any attempts by their workers to organize.

AYF members listen attentively as Dr. Ara Khanjian goes over the history and dynamics of union organizing. Photo by Vache Thomassian.

Indeed, this hostility has combined with a legacy of political persecution of socialists and labor activists in this country—as occurred during the infamous “Red Scare” of the 1950s—resulting in one of the lowest rates of workplace unionization in the entire industrial world.

“It’s hard to ignore the alarming fact that only about 13% of American laborers are a part of organized unions,” said Sanan Shirinian, a member of the “Zartonk” AYF who was in attendance for the lecture. “This reality exemplifies the unjust distribution of power in our workforce.”

As Khanjian pointed out, this rate is especially abysmal when compared to countries in Europe, where unionization sometimes reaches as high 70 to 80 percent of the workforce. Such differences are part of the reason why people in the US work longer hours than most others in the industrial world, yet enjoy only a fraction of the benefits and have seen their real wages stagnate over the last 3 decades.

However, despite this comparative weakness of the American labor movement today, workers in this country have long been at the forefront of a host of important progressive achievements in areas as diverse as workers’ rights, civil liberties, consumer protection, and civil rights. In fact, the well-known International Worker’s Day, celebrated annually on May 1st, originally developed as an international commemoration of the Chicago Haymarket Massacre of 1886, when American workers were gunned down by police during a strike for the eight-hour day.

Being presented such rarely-known facts by Dr. Khanjian was one of the most rewarding aspects of the evening for “Zartonk” AYF member Sanan Haroun. “Using real-life examples, such as the Haymarket Tragedy or the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, within his presentation was a great method of connecting with the audience,” said Haroun. “It was the first time I was exposed to these issues and I find it crucial for everyone to be aware of such matters. They directly or indirectly affect everyone, no matter what career field they are in.”

Massachusetts militiamen with fixed bayonets surround a parade of peaceful strikers. The Lawrence textile strike was a strike of immigrant workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1912 led by the Industrial Workers of the World. Source: http://womhist.bingh

The presentation, throughout, also laid focus on one of the universal tenets of the labor movement: solidarity. Unions show us that by coming together with people of common interests, pooling resources, and leveraging each other’s success, you can do things otherwise impossible and go a long way in making a difference for your community. This basic point was summed up by the following African proverb read to the audience by Dr. Khanjian: “If you want to go fast, then go alone. If you want to go far, then go together.”

During the question and answer period, these issues were further expanded upon through a lively back and forth covering such topics as labor standards in Armenia, the effect unions have on international competitiveness and the stance of the ARF on organized labor in general. These discussions carried on even past the question and answer session, as AYF members and those in attendance talked about what was presented over light snacks and refreshments.

Subsequent lectures in the Crescenta Valley “Zartonk” Chapter’s “Blueprint for Progress” educational series are scheduled for June 28, July 26 and August 23. The topics to be presented include the civil rights movement, environmental sustainability, and healthcare. For more information, contact AYFZartonk@gmail.com.

ENCINO–More than 250 community members took part in an 11-mile bike-a-thon Saturday to commemorate the Armenian Genocide in a unique event organized by the Armenian Youth Federation San Fernando Valley Sardarabad chapter.
 
Dubbed “Cycle Against Denial,” the bike-a-thon attracted participants from as far south as Orange County and as far north as Fresno and began and ended at the Holy Martyrs’ Armenian Church. Cyclists ranged in age from 8-year old Eric Ikoyan to 73-year old Antranik Baghdasarian.
 
The organizers said the bike-a-thon was a symbolic representation of the cycle of genocide, which continues today as a direct result of Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide. It was described by participants as a welcome change to the regular commemoration events held annually by the community.
 
“This is truly a new and unique way to remember our 1.5 million martyrs,” said one cyclist on the ride. “People on the street have been asking me why we are riding. I told them we are riding to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide.”
 
After finishing the route, participants returned to Ferrahian High School for a commemoration program, featuring the singing of the Armenian and American national anthems, as well as remarks by Sardarabad chapter member Aline Karakozian and community activist Mourad Topalian. The event also included an original poem by Levon Shant Demirjian along with a prayer and candlelight vigil.
 
The bike-a-thon came the day after President Obama broke his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide by avoiding the word ‘genocide’ during his April 24 statement.
 
Speaking to the crowd after the bike-a-thon, Karakozian condemned the Turkish government’s efforts to blackmail Obama into silence. “They are trying to discourage us but we are not afraid and will never give up,” she said.
 
“They can deny the genocide, they can deny the truth, but they cannot deny what I see here in front of me: the passionate souls, the inflamed hearts, and the enraged minds,” Karakozian exclaimed. “We are still standing at our churches, our schools, our children, we are all here, we are able and we will continue to struggle for recognition.”
 
Obama’s statement also came two days after the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries issued a joint statement announcing that they had agreed on a “roadmap” for normalizing their relation. The statement, which was issued on the eve of the Genocide’s anniversary, is seen as having been a tacit signal to Obama by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to not recognize the Genocide.

Topalian criticized President Sarkisian for announcing the “roadmap” two days before April 24, when he knew “here in the United States that we truly have a chance to make history.”
 
“We don’t know any of the details; your government doesn’t know the details; your people do not know the details; and the Armenia Diaspora surely does not know the details and you’re going to tell us wait until all the details are known and then judge it?” Topalian asked, stressing the disastrous consequences that would follow if Sarkisian’s administration agrees to establishing a commission to examine the Genocide.