Friends,
As you may be aware, this April 24th marks the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Between 1915 and 1923, two million Christian Armenians were forcibly uprooted from their homeland with 1.5 million of that number systematically slaughtered by the Ottoman Turkish government under the cover of World War I, effectively eliminating the 5,000-year presence of Armenians in our historic homeland. This mass murder is considered the first documented genocide of modern times.
As someone of Armenian ancestry, the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the genocide is bittersweet: it is an opportunity to remember our ancestors and those lost, but also celebrate the survival of our people.
What you might be shocked to learn is that Turkey not only denies the Armenian Genocide occurred -they pay DC lobbyists millions each year to make sure America doesn’t join the 22 countries (including France, Germany, and Canada), the Holy See, and former U.S. Presidents like Ronald Reagan who recognized the Armenian Genocide as “genocide.”
I’m asking you to join me and the entire Armenian American community in signing a petition at Change.org (http://chn.ge/1L7G1tn) to demand President Obama and Congress reaffirm former U.S. policy of labeling the Armenian Genocide as a “genocide.”
It’s worth noting that we’re simply asking President Obama to keep a promise he made to our community when running for President in 2008. That promise has been thwarted by the Turkish government, which has built a powerful coalition of lobbyists in the United States who use their political influence to prevent international recognition of the genocide. But I’m convinced that together our voices can speak louder than their lobbyist’s dollars.
If you would like to join us, sign the petition now. Click on the link below.
When you have added your voice to the growing chorus of those who demand recognition of this genocide, I kindly ask you to forward this email to friends and family and encourage them to do the same. Together, we can demand our elected officials stand on the right side of justice and morality, and put America on the right side of history.
Best,
Zaven Khanjian
AMAA Executive Director/CEO
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Armenian Missionary Association of America 