ANCA-WR Holds Advocacy Day in Colorado

DENVER, Colorado””Just days after the Texas committee on International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs heard a resolution on the Armenian Genocide, and hundreds gathered at the Colorado Capitol Khachkar to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the Genocide on April 26, the Colorado State Legislature unanimously passed joint resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide and calling on the federal government to do the same. All the while, led by ANCA-WR executive director Elen Asatryan, board member Sako Berberian, and Denver-based community development coordinator Simon Maghakyan, community members young and old from across the Centennial state started the day with early morning meetings with CO Senate President and Senate President Pro-Tempore to discuss Armenian-American priorities during the 2017 ANCA-WR Advocacy Day. After a moving commemoration and unanimous passage of resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide in Senate then House chambers, meetings continued throughout the day with focal points of discussion with officials centered around US-Armenia relations, the Armenian Genocide, as well as statewide issues impacting the Colorado Armenian communities from public transportation and education to housing.

“Our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude goes out to the fierce leadership of the CO House of Representatives and Senate, all the Colorado legislators who stood in solidarity to commemorate the 100+2 Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and our vibrant Armenian-American community who once again demonstrated their determination to fight for our cause and make our community’s voice heard. As we move forward with our initiatives and priorities, we know Colorado has both an educated legislature on our issues and an emboldened grassroots ready to take our cause to the next level,”