Aprahamian and Hovsepian at the CSU Fullerton Social Justice Summit Resource Fair

FULLERTON, CA–The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and Armenian National Committee (ANC) partnered up on Saturday, April 17th to present a workshop on the Armenian Genocide and its denial during the 2010 Social Justice Summit on the California State University, Fullerton campus.

The day-long event featured workshops on a range of social justice-related issues from the environment and labor issues to community quality of life issues and crimes against humanity.  The event was organized by Students ACT-Students Advocating Civic Transformation and hosted by the Volunteer & Service Center.

“This was a great opportunity to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide and its current consequences with individuals who are already passionate about social justice and how to effect positive change in their communities,” said AYF Western USA Executive Director, Serouj Aprahamian.

Aprahamian and ANC-Western Region Community Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian, partnered up to present an overview of the history of the Armenian Genocide and how the issue has been addressed on the international as well as the political stage in the United States over the past 95 years. They also discussed the evolution of Armenian Genocide denial and its impact on subsequent genocides including the current, ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region is the largest Armenian American grassroots community organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of concern to the Armenian American community.

On the eve of the ninety-fifth commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian-American youth remember the words of the then hopeful Presidential candidate Barack Obama: “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.” Yet, Mr. President, when the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res 252) on March 11, 2010 passed in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, members of your cabinet actively and publicly opposed the resolution, stating, “We are against this decision…the US Congress will not take any decision on this subject.” During your inspiring campaign of hope and change millions of youth around the country became civilly active for the first time supporting your run for presidency. Your vision of government where politics will no longer intervene with human rights and injustice struck a chord with what young Americans envisioned for the future of this nation. With regard to the Armenian Genocide, it was thousands of American Armenians who rallied around your campaign in hopes their country would finally halt its complacency with genocide denial. Many first and second generation American Armenians became excited about a candidate who pledged to finally recognize the heinous crime their ancestor’s suffered almost one-hundred years ago. The youth and future of this nation remains troubled and confused. Your campaign pledge to rectify past struggles of human rights, genocide prevention, and morality remains unfulfilled. As evidenced by the continued genocide in Darfur, and the failure to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, the cycle of Genocide continues on your watch. The promises of hope and change which once excited the human rights community in hindsight seem to only have been campaign rhetoric. Yet as much as the Obama administration’s first year came and passed with disappointment, empty promises and even overtones of hypocrisy, the ability to bring change and fulfill your campaign promises remains on the horizon. This April 24th, Armenian Americans, from coast to coast, will take to the streets in protest of Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide and your administrations complicity in that crime. From Los Angeles to New York and Washington DC, young and old, will demand an end to Turkey’s gag rule on their elected representatives and a return to a just and moral foreign policy based on proper recognition of crimes against humanity such as the Armenian Genocide. Once again, for yet another year, we ask you to stand by your campaign pledge and recognize the Armenian Genocide this April 24.

PASADENA, CA – History will come alive at the Pasadena Armenian Center on Washington Avenue on Friday, April 16th when the film “Ravished Armenia” is shown in a free screening sponsored by local Armenian American groups. The screening of the film, which was once thought lost forever, will feature remarks by noted screenwriter and film director Eric Nazarian. The film chronicles the life of Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian and her experiences during the Armenian Genocide.

“The Pasadena Hamazkayin, AYF and ANC Chapters are proud to have united to invite all residents in the City of Pasadena to come and view ‘Ravished Armenia’ at the Pasadena Armenian Center on April 16th,” remarked Pasadena ANC Executive Director Ishkhan Boghossian. “The film is a genuine piece of American history. And while we once thought this film was lost forever, we now have a chance to see the remarkable work of Aurora Mardiganian, a true Armenian American hero.”  The film screening will be held on April 16th at 7:30pm at the Pasadena Armenian Center located at 740 East Washington Boulevard.

The book Ravished Armenia, by Aurora Mardiganian, (also called The Auction of Souls) was published three years after the Armenian Genocide commenced in 1915. The early publication of the book would clearly make it one of the first Genocide survivor memoirs to appear in English. Within months of arriving in the US, Mardiganian was starring as herself for $15 a week in a film adaptation and reenacting horrifying scenes from the Armenian Genocide.

The film “Ravished Armenia” was directed by veteran filmmaker Oscar Apfel. According to historians and film experts, the film garnered considerable attention in 1919 when it was first shown and was used to help raise money for Near East Relief to assist survivors of the Armenian Genocide. However, for many years “Ravished Armenia” was thought to be a lost film.  Over the past two decades portions of the film have been rediscovered, and Richard D. Kloian of the Armenian Genocide Resource Center has produced an enhanced and edited 24-minute version to which he has carefully added an historical introduction, descriptive subtitles, well-chosen music, and a slideshow of production stills to create an important document.

The “Ravished Armenia” film screening is being presented through the efforts and leadership of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association Pasadena ‘Shahan Shahnour’ Chapter and the Pasadena Armenian Youth Federation ‘Nigol Touman’ Chapter, with the support of the Pasadena Armenian National Committee.

Individuals interested in learning more about the film screening of “Ravished Armenia” at the Pasadena Armenian Center are encouraged to contact the Pasadena ANC at ancpasadena@gmail.com.
The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the areas Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

Members of the Hollywood 'Musa Dagh' Chapter buzz-in to answer a question.

CRESCENTA VALLEY, CA—The Armenian Center in Crescenta Valley was abuzz with excitement on Saturday, March 20, as members from seven chapters of the Armenian Youth Federation came together to compete in what has become the most anticipated educational event on the AYF’s yearly calendar.

The annual educational Quiz Bowl has been hosted by the AYF’s Crescenta Valley ‘Zartonk’ Chapter since 2006. This year, it pitted seven chapters against each other in a fast-paced historical trivia competition that tested members’ knowledge of the history behind the names of AYF chapters.

“Every year, we try to pick a topic that is informative yet interesting and a novel subject to many members–something they do not have in-depth exposure to,” said Sanan Haroun, a member of the chapter’s executive body. “This year, therefore, we chose the history behind AYF chapter names.”

Haroun explained that each of the 14 chapter’s in the AYF’s western region derived their names from a unique moment, place or individual from our national history. Some were names after revolutionary heroes, while others after historic cities or movements.

“Our chapter, ‘Zartonk,’ for example, was named in honor of the Armenian Enlightenment–a period covering the 18th and 19th centuries, when dedicated intellectuals and activists tirelessly laid the groundwork for a literary, cultural and political awakening for the Armenian people,” she said. “The Montebello chapter is named after the famed activist, Vahan Cardashian, who set the foundation for Armenian political advocacy in the United States. He founded of the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA), the precursor to today’s Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).“

Though every AYF member is familiar with the names of each of the organization’s chapters, the history and legacy behind these names is not always as well known.

“It was really significant and interesting for us to learn about the history of the chapter names in our organization” said Vache Thomassian, a member of the Hollywood ‘Musa Dagh’ chapter. “Each of the chapters’ names holds an important part of Armenian history and I don’t think any comprehensive attempt had been made, until now, to present our membership with a truly in-depth look into this rich legacy.”

Hollywood, which took first place in the competition, traces its chapter name to the legendary mountain of Musa Dagh, where Armenians successfully held off an advancing Turkish army during the Genocide until they could be rescued.

For more information about the AYF or the annual educational Quiz Bowl, visit www.AYFwest.org.