Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) is reporting that the Armenian Youth Federation – Western Region (AYF-WR) continues to take a strong leadership role in rallying community support for the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106).

Last week, hundreds of AYF members held a successful rally in Little Armenia to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide resolution pending in Congress. Th rally was covered by the following television news shows: KCBS, KCAL and KTTV Fox News. Among those speaking at the rally were State Assemblymember Kevin DeLeon and Glendale Unified School Board member Greg Krikorian. AYF members have also been volunteering to run numerous phone banks that are reaching out to tens of thousands of Armenian Americans in states across the Western United States in support of H. Res. 106.

“Since 1933, the AYF has served to educate and motivate our community,” stated AYF Central Executive Chairman Caspar Jivalagian. “Building support for the Armenian Genocide resolution is critical to our shared goal of raising awareness of one of the most horrific chapters in human history. The AYF is also focused on defending American values, like truth and justice, which are under assault by genocide denying lobbyists being paid for by the Turkish Government,” he added.

H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution passed through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (HCFA) by a vote of 27-21 on October 10, 2007. Following the media frenzy stirred by the President and the State Department’s opposition to the bill, the AYF-WR mobilized to assist in efforts to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide resolution.

“The AYF continues to play a strong role in our community,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. “We look forward to continuing and expanding our work with AYF members to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide resolution,” he added.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots political organization. Working through a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the US and around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo Caption #1: Supporters at the rally wave American flags.

Photo Caption #2: Rally attendees hoisted signs such as this to demonstrate concern over opposition to the Armenian Genocide Bill.