AYF-WUS Organizes April 24 Protest in Front of Beverly Hills Turkish Consulate
BEVERLY HILLS—The Armenian Youth Federation Western United States organized its annual Armenian Genocide protest on April 24 in front of the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills as part of an ongoing and newly-launched campaign, “Break the Chains of Genocide.”
This year marked the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and was dedicated to both demanding proper recognition, reparations, and restitution of the 1.5 million lives lost and land stolen during the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and highlighting how the delayed recognition, reparations, and restitution has led to the continuation of the vicious cycle of Genocide committed against Armenians with the recent 2023 Genocide in Artsakh. The protest is part of a larger ongoing campaign, “Break the Chains of Genocide,” that focuses on highlighting the continuous threat of Genocide of Armenians perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey to spread pan-Turkism and eradicate Christians in the Middle East.
Thousands of Armenian Americans, allies, and friends of the Armenian people attended the protest, including prominent community members, students, and politicians. The event was a powerful exhibit that the Armenian community will not forget the atrocities committed against their ancestors, as well as a reminder that the Republic of Turkey not only continues to deny the Genocide but also actively supports and funds Azerbaijan in its efforts to genocide Armenians from their ancestral homeland in the modern day. The event’s messaging was also very clear in condemning both the Biden and Pashinyan administrations, that both were complicit in enabling genocide and injustices against the Armenian people.
The protest was opened with a prayer led by a representative of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and featured several speakers, including Hakop Hajibekyan, who spoke on behalf of the Armenian Youth Federation Western United States. His moving speech not only paid respect to the victims of the 1915 Genocide and the losses of the 2023 Genocide, but served as a call to action against the recent border disputes in the Tavush region of Armenia Proper.
“President Biden, you have failed Armenia and the Armenian people. You have failed to uphold justice, you have failed to accept the truth, and you have failed to protect the innocent Armenians of Artsakh and Armenia. You are complicit in Genocide, the Armenian youth rejects you,” stated Hajibekyan, addressing the lack of action taken by the United States. He continued by also directing his sentiments to the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey as well. “Pashinyan, your treason to our nation will not go unpunished. Do not think your Azeri oil money – stained with the blood of my brothers and sisters in Artsakh, and now, Tavush – will save you. Aliyev and Erdogan, we, the revolutionary youth, know your secret. We know that you fear us. You fear our resilience. You fear our strength. You fear the truth: that we belong – undeniably – to our lands.”
Other speakers included Areen Tazian, who served as Master of Ceremonies, Gev Iskajyan on behalf of the Armenian National Committee of America, Sarig Armenian on behalf of both the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States and Armenian Legal Center for Justice & Human Rights, as well as Samvel Hakobyan, a Yerevan City Councilmember.
