SACRAMENTO, CA—Activists from across California will join the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) and the California State Legislature in commemorating the 96th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The day’s events will include an Advocacy Day where activists will visit various legislators’ offices to advocate issues of interest to the Armenian American community in California, as well as the public unveiling of an exhibit in the State Capitol Rotunda about the Near East Relief Foundation.

“The annual Armenian Genocide commemoration reaffirms California’s commitment to combating genocide and its denial while providing Armenian Americans an opportunity to connect with representatives and engage the political process,” said Raffi L. Kassabian, ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee Chair.

The Armenian Genocide will be commemorated in both the California State Senate and Assembly chambers during which the Legislature will vote on resolutions commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

An exhibit in the State Capitol Rotunda featuring the Near East Foundation will be unveiled the same day. The Near East Foundation was organized by an act of the United States Congress to aid the victims during and in the years following the Armenian Genocide. As part of its efforts, the Near East Foundation used promotional posters to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis. The exhibit tells the story of the Near East Foundation through these posters and California’s contribution to the nationwide effort.

Those interested in attending should contact Tereza Yerimyan at the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918.

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.