Armenian Youth Federation and the United Human Rights Council to hold a fast at the Los Angeles Turkish Consulate

“Fast for Remembrance”; remembering the victims
of the Armenian Genocide

Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and the United Human Rights Council (UHRC) in a joint collaboration will hold a fast in front of the Turkish Consulate from January 2nd-6th. The fast, titled “Fast for Remembrance” aims to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide, phases of the genocide and genocides that followed.

Beginning January 2nd at 9am and concluding on January 6th at 5pm, a group of youth activists will give up all food in order to bring attention to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkey; a crime still denied by subsequent Turkish governments.

“Our ancestors were forcefully starved for weeks while being beaten, tortured and raped. We are willing to fast for a few days in order to try to educate others about what our people went through during the Armenian Genocide” said Soseh Esmaili, a Fast for Remembrance organizer and faster.

“As a member of the UHRC, I understand how important it is to educate people about the Armenian Genocide and all genocides. The cliche, ‘history repeats itself’ is true. Due to the fact that the perpetrators of the Armenian genocide went unpunished, it showed future genocide perpetrators that it is ok to try to wipe out an entire race because there will be no repercussions for it” said UHRC member, Marie Ghanime.

January 6th will not only mark the end of the fast, it also marks the day that Armenians worldwide celebrate Christmas. “Ending the fast on this day is symbolic. Armenians kept their Christian faith while living under a Muslim state for over 600 years, they were subject to genocide because of it, but were able to persevere and survive” said Esmaili.