LOS ANGELES – Activists from across California will join the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) for its annual Advocacy Day in Sacramento, on Monday, April 7, 2014.

Since 2002, Armenian-Americans from across the Golden State have joined the ANCA-WR and the California State Legislature to commemorate the Armenian Genocide in the State Capitol. “While we remember and honor the memory of the 1.5 million who perished during the Genocide, Advocacy Day also serves to empower our community, by bringing activists to the State Capitol to meet with their representatives and communicate issues of concern to our community,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director, Elen Asatryan. She continued, “For years, the ANCA-WR Advocacy Day has attracted hundreds of participants and serves as an important opportunity to educate, activate, and motivate advocates on the legislative process.”

This year, the commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will begin with ceremonies on both the California Senate and Assembly floors, where legislators will have the opportunity to deliver remarks about the Genocide. This will then be followed by a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Participants will meet with their legislators throughout the day to advocate current issues of interest to Armenian Americans and will then participate in a meet and greet reception with members of the legislature later in the afternoon.

For individuals/groups who are interested in participating from the Los Angeles area, bus transportation and lodging will be provided to and from Sacramento. The bus will depart on Sunday, April 6, 2014 and will return the following evening on Monday, April 7, 2014.  For tickets, please visit www.itsmyseat.com/ancawr . Community members interested in participating that do not need transportation or lodging may register online at www.ancawr.org/registeradvocacyday. For more information about Advocacy Day, visit www.ancawr.org, email CAstate@ancawr.org or call (818) 500-1918.

More details on this years’ Advocacy Day, including time and schedule, to follow.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy 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 ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.