Day: April 15, 2024

FRESNO—The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is outraged by the arson attacks that have targeted the Masis Ararat Armenian Cemetery in Fresno, and have the potential of being hate crimes.

The Cemetery in Fresno, established in 1885, is the oldest Armenian cemetery in the United States and the final resting place of Armenian heroes and public figures such as Soghomon Tehlirian, Victor Maghakian, and William Saroyan.

According to the cemetery’s management, eight trees were torched by arsonists at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday, April 13.  The incident marks the sixth of its kind since the start of 2024, bringing down more than 19 trees in the cemetery. The arson attack came 11 days before the Cemetery’s newer section, dubbed Masis Ararat, is set to host an Armenian Genocide commemoration and flag raising ceremony at its Soghomon Tehlirian Monument.

“These heinous attacks on the Masis Armenian Cemetery are a clear indication that anti-Armenian sentiment is an unaddressed threat to public safety, and especially the Fresno Armenian-American community,” said Oshin Harootoonian, Chair of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors.

“The local authorities must investigate the six incidents that have taken place since the beginning of 2024, and ensure that these pattern of crimes are effectively addressed, offender(s) are be brought to justice, and that the Armenian-American community is compensated for all damages,” Harootooian added.

“ANCA Central California chapter members are working closely with the board of the Masis Ararat Armenian Cemetery and the local authorities to determine the cause of these series of arson attacks, and to ensure the safety of our community in Fresno,” said Raffy Chekerdemian of ANCA Central California chapter.  

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.

Armenian Genocide Committee 109th Anniversary Commemoration event flyer

LOS ANGELES—The Armenian Genocide Committee, a broad-based coalition of the leading religious, political, youth, charitable, athletic and social organizations of the Armenian community of Southern California, has announced a community wide public event on April 24 at 4:30 p.m. at the Parcher Plaza Glendale City Hall, located at 613 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA, and a 1-hour special online program on April 24 at 7 p.m.

Community members and Armenians from around the globe can tune into the online program through AGC’s website and the social media platforms of AGC member organizations.

This year’s commemoration comes on the heels of the 280 plus day long genocidal blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan between December 12, 2022 and September 19, 2023, and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral lands.

On April 15, 2024, the Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC) sent a letter to President Biden condemning US inaction during the genocidal blockade of Artsakh, and the Biden Administration’s failure to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral lands in Artsakh.

AGC demands the following from the Biden Administration:

1. Establish a UN Security Council led international protectorate that secures the lives of the 150,000 Artsakh Armenians and ensures their right of return to their ancestral lands of Hadrut, Shushi, Stepanakert, Martuni, Martakert, Askeran and Qashatagh in Artsakh;  
2. Address the educational, healthcare, economic, and housing needs of the 150,000 Artsakh refugees who have been periodically and forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan and have found refuge in the Republic of Armenia by delivering $750 million in US Government humanitarian assistance;
3. Immediately halt all U.S. military and economic assistance to Azerbaijan, consistent with Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
4. Sanction members of the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by that regime;
5. Facilitate the release of all Armenian POWs, detainees, and hostages including, the 8 Artsakh officials who were abducted following Azerbaijan’s September 19, 2023 military assault against Artsakh;
6. Restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia by facilitating the removal of all Azeri forces from areas occupied during Azerbaijan’s continuous invasions into Armenia since May 2021.

Other AGC endorsed events in Southern California include:

• GNAZ BLOOD DRIVE with American Red Cross on April 21 between 9:00am and 3:00pm PST at the Armenian Church of the Nazarene (411 E Acacia Ave., Glendale, CA);
• City of Glendale Commemoration on April 21 at 4:30pm PST at the Alex Theatre (216 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA);
• UACLA Religious Ceremony & Placement of Flowers on April 24 at 10:00am PST at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Monument (901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA);
• AYF Demonstration on April 24 at 12:00pm PST at the Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles (8500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA).

Armenian Genocide Committee members: Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church of North America, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Homenetmen Western U.S, Armenian Youth Federation, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, Armenian Council of America, Armenian Bar Association, Organization of Istanbul Armenians.

Police detained 14 people during the mass rally on the night of April 15 against the Foreign Agents Law, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported.

According to the MIA, the participants of the rally “violated public order, resisted law enforcement, and verbally abused them”, resulting in their arrest under Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

The MIA press release also states that “as a result of the violent actions of the rally participants,” an employee of the Ministry was injured. According to the MIA, he received appropriate medical attention.

Parliament’s Legal Issues Committee approved a Russian-style bill on foreign agents late at night amid mass protests against the bill.