The schedule of events for Paylan’s visit to California (Click to enlarge)
LOS ANGELES—From September 24 to 26, Garo Paylan, founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and member of the Turkish Parliament, will visit the Southern California Armenian community and participate in several events, which include an academic conference, a community dinner and a town hall meeting hosted by Asbarez.
Paylan represents the 3rd district of Istanbul and is active within the Armenian community there. He has been a strong advocate for minority rights, human rights and social justice in Turkey and will engage in discussions involving current events in Turkey and the region. Prior to his election to Parliament, Paylan served in the central committee of the HDP and also served on management boards of Armenian schools in Istanbul. He has long promoted bilingual education and minority rights in Turkey and has been actively engaged in raising awareness on issues of discrimination toward minorities, the rights of the Armenian community in Turkey, Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Hrant Dink’s case, and justice for the Armenian Genocide. His family originates from Malatya, and he is currently one of three deputies in the Turkish Parliament who are of ethnic Armenian heritage.
On Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Paylan will be the featured speaker at an academic conference organized by Armenians & Progressive Politics and the All-ASA Armenian Students Association in partnership with the Woodbury ASA.
The conference, entitled “GEOPOLITICS AND MINORITIES: THE CASE OF TURKEYâ€
