AYF Targets Corporate Complicity In Genocide Denial With Launch Of Chevron Protest Campaign

July 22nd demonstrations at Chevron headquarters; local stations to spotlight energy company’s lobby efforts against Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252)

WASHINGTON–The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) will join with Armenian Americans and human rights activists in kicking off a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about Turkish Government coercion of energy giant Chevron and some five multinational corporations currently lobbying against Armenian Genocide legislation.

The protest will begin on July 22, 2009 at the Chevron headquarters in San Ramon, California and local stations across the U.S., in conjunction with an online letter writing campaign to Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly urging the company to publicly apologize for profiting from Genocide denial.  Details are posted on the Armenian National Committee website – www.anca.org/chevron.  Over 1000 activists are already part of a Facebook group taking action on the initiative.

“No company – however big or powerful – should be allowed to profit from genocide or its denial,” said AYF Eastern Region Chairwoman Lauren DaSilva.  “Chevron and its partners must be exposed for their outrageous actions and breach of their own stated corporate code of conduct.”

According to their website, the corporation prides itself on running the company the “Chevron Way” — responsibly, ethically and with respect to human rights.  However, on June 13th, the Associated Press revealed that Chevron and 5 other multinational energy and defense corporations, including BAE Systems, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, United Technologies and Goodrich have filed disclosure forms with the Senate and House “quietly” lobbying against H.Res.252 the Armenian Genocide Resolution, among a wide array of legislation.

In first quarter of 2009 alone, the six firms have spent some $14 million in Congressional lobby efforts.  This is in addition to the over $3 million spent annually by the Government of Turkey to block U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, a cornerstone of their foreign policy priorities.  The firms would not respond to press inquiries regarding their opposition to the House resolution.

“Clearly, Turkey will spare to no expense to cover up its dark past, “said AYF Western Region Chairman Vache Thomassian.  “Coercing corporations like Chevron to do its dirty deeds is just the latest tactic – exporting genocide denial to our neighborhoods, one gas station at a time.”

Spearheaded by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk, House Resolution 252 specifically “1) calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects proper understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to realize a just resolution; and 2) calls upon the President in the President’s annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide issued on or about April 24, to accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide and to recall the proud history of United States intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide.”

The resolution has the support of over 125 cosponsors, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D- CA) and Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA).

LOCATIONS FOR JULY 22ND CHEVRON PROTEST AGAINST GENOCIDE DENIAL

California:
11:00am – 1:00pm: Chevron Corporate Offices,
6001 Bolinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA
11:00am – 1:00pm: 1868 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles CA 90027
11:00am – 1:00pm: 466 W. Broadway, Glendale, CA
11:00am – 1:00pm: 233 N. Alta Dena Dr., Pasadena, CA
11:00am – 1:00pm: 1400 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA
11:00am – 1:00pm: 1500 Paramount Blvd., Montebello, CA 90640
12:00pm – 2:00pm: 100 S Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502
4:00pm – 6:00pm: 6737 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA
4:00pm – 6:00pm: 18081 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316-3517
4:00pm – 6:00pm: 8980 Warner Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
6:00pm – 8:00pm: 1020 E Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA

Florida:
11:00am – 1:00pm: 2626 Lee RD, Winter Park FL 32789

Maryland:
11:00am – 1:00pm: 5001 Bradley Blvd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Nevada:
11:00am – 1:00pm: 8500 W Charleston Las Vegas, NV

Pennsylvania:
11:00am – 1:00pm: 2090 Sproul Rd., Broomall, PA 19008