Day: May 1, 2024

ANC of Illinois demonstration and flag raising event at Richard J. Daley Plaza in Chicago

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois (ANC-IL) hosted and organized several events in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide highlighting its continuing efforts in support of the Armenian cause.

The week began on April 20, as the ANC-IL hosted a successful fundraiser at Demetri’s Restaurant in Deerfield, Illinois. Sponsored by Vatche and Maral Keuftedjian, the event, which supported the ongoing advocacy efforts of ANC-IL, brought together a dedicated community of 36 supporters and activists.

Under the stewardship of emcee Mike Demirjian, the evening featured enlightening speeches from esteemed speakers. Ani Apresyan shared her insights gained through participation in the ANCA Rising Leaders program in Washington, D.C., highlighting the importance of youth engagement in advancing the Armenian agenda. ANCA National Chairman Raffi Hamparian delivered a poignant address, underscoring the significance of continued activism and advocacy in seeking justice for the Armenian people. Additionally, Ken Hachikian, the chairman of Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, provided invaluable perspectives on the legal dimensions of the Armenian cause.

Through their generous contributions and steadfast support, attendees reaffirmed their dedication to the mission of ANC-IL. Funds raised will directly support the operations of ANC-IL, enabling the organization to continue its vital work in fighting for the rights and dignity of Armenians worldwide.

More than 300 people attended the Armenian Genocide commemoration at Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in Glenview, Illinois on April 21, 2024

The next day, April 21, Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in Glenview, Illinois, served as the backdrop for a commemorative event honoring the legacy of the Armenian Genocide.

Organized by the ANC-IL, this gathering was marked by solemn remembrance and fervent advocacy, bringing together a diverse community united in its commitment to the Armenian cause. The event drew more than 300 attendees, highlighting the profound significance of the Genocide in the collective memory of the Armenian people.

Led by emcee Maral Abrahamian, a member of the ANCA Eastern Region Board, the event commenced with a stirring ceremony by the Homenetmen Scouts, who proudly presented the flags and recited both the American and Armenian national anthems, symbolizing the unity and resilience of the Armenian diaspora.

Distinguished speakers illuminated the significance of the occasion, offering profound insights into the ongoing pursuit of justice for the Armenian cause. ANCA National Grassroots Director Gev Iskajyan shared his experiences and perspectives gained through years of dedicated service to the Armenian community, including his impactful tenure as executive director of ANC Artsakh. ANCA National Chairman Hamparian delivered a powerful address, reaffirming the commitment of the Armenian diaspora to seeking recognition and restitution for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, Hagop Soulakian, chairman of the ARF Chicago Christapor Gomideh, reflected on community engagement and advocacy.

Raising the flags at the ANC-Il demonstration on April 24 in Chicago

The week’s events concluded on Wednesday, April 24, when the Armenian community of Chicago gathered at Richard J. Daley Plaza to solemnly commemorate the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to raise awareness of the recent atrocities committed against Armenians in Artsakh by Azerbaijan. 

The rally and flag raising ceremony, organized by the ANC-IL, commenced with Armen Alexanian serving as emcee and through the generous support of Dr. and Mrs. Aram Semerjian, who sponsored transportation for the demonstration, ensuring the participation of a diverse and passionate community. Speakers, including Areni Artinian from the Chicago “Ararat” AYF Chapter, Ken Hachikian from the Chicago Christapor ARF and Anoush Bargamian from the ANC-IL, delivered impassioned addresses, shedding light on the ongoing plight of the Armenian people and the urgent need for international recognition and justice.

Religious leaders at the April 24 commemoration at Richard J. Daley Plaza in Chicago

The event was graced by the presence of religious leaders, including Fr. Samuel, Fr. Tavit, Fr. Hovhan and Fr. Andreas, who offered their blessings alongside godfathers Marty Tellelian, Alexander Khoja-Eynatyan, Robert Kaprielian and AYF members Taron Asatryan and Karoon Krikorian, symbolizing the unity and resilience of the Armenian community.

Following a solemn prayer, attendees united in singing the Armenian national anthem, a powerful expression of solidarity and remembrance. The rally continued until the event’s conclusion, serving as a platform for advocacy, education and commemoration.

ANC of Illinois commemoration event at Richard J. Daley Plaza in Chicago

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois extends its deepest gratitude to all participants, supporters and sponsors for their unwavering commitment to the Armenian cause and all the week’s events. Together, we stand united in our pursuit of justice, recognition and remembrance.

For more information about ANC-IL and upcoming events, please visit anca.org or e-mail IllinoisANC@gmail.com.

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Pashinian Allies Hurl Insults At Armenian Protest Leader  Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան

The uncanny and telling symmetry: Putin vs Netanyahu https://t.co/7vx7I2Kwvz #NewsAndTimes #NT #TNT #News #Times#World #USA #POTUS #DOJ #FBI #CIA #DIA #ODNI#Israel #Mossad #Netanyahu#Ukraine #NewAbwehr #OSINT#Putin #Russia #GRU #Путин, #Россия #SouthCaucasus #Bloggers…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 1, 2024

International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, as earlier against Putin: the uncanny and telling symmetry – GS https://t.co/nd4Iq0rHRR –
Was this a part of the Putin – GRU plan from the beginning of this “October 7 Surprise – Gaza War Operation”?… pic.twitter.com/wr58yYpi6p

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 1, 2024

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A selection of books from the Vahakn Dadrian Armenian Genocide book collection at USC

USC’s Doheny Memorial Library is celebrating a major new addition to the USC Libraries’ holdings on Holocaust and genocide studies.

Comprising approximately 3,800 books in Armenian, Turkish, French, German and English, the Vahakn Dadrian Armenian Genocide Book Collection will serve students, faculty and others researching the campaign of mass murder and deportation the Ottoman Empire waged against its Armenian subjects during World War I. 

“The collection will expand our university’s considerable resources for understanding both the Armenian Genocide and global Armenian diaspora experiences,” said Dean Melissa Just of the USC Libraries. “Supporting these areas of inquiry is an enduring priority for our libraries and our university.” 

The collection was donated to the USC Libraries by the Ararat-Eskijian Museum and Research Center. The research materials were originally acquired by scholar Vahakn Dadrian (1926-2019) over the course of his extensive studies of the Armenian Genocide. Marguerite Mangassarian Goschin, the Ararat-Eskijian Museum’s director, worked with Dadrian before his death to find a home for his papers and personal library.

The museum’s chairman, Martin Eskijian, hailed the collection as “a major step forward in the actual documentation of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.” 

At the USC Libraries, it joins several unique collections that sustain scholarship on genocide and mass violence, including the 30,000 primary and secondary sources that constitute the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Collection; the Feuchwanger Memorial Library, which contains the private papers and personal library of the Jewish-German author Lion Feuchtwanger; and the Armenian Genocide Insurance Settlement Papers, whose 40 boxes document a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of families of victims of the Armenian Genocide. 

Collections such as these attract scholars from around the world to the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research, whose founding director, Wolf Gruner, described the university as “fertile ground” for research into the Armenian Genocide.

“For me as a scholar, this is the best situation I could ever imagine—to provide scholars with the materials and also the time and the space to do these kinds of studies,” Gruner said.

“In my assessment,” he added, “USC is now the place where you will study the Armenian Genocide. There are not many places in the world where you can do it. It’s the place to go now.” 

Shushan Karapetian, director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, applauded the acquisition.

“This collection and the activities and scholarship it will undoubtedly generate will help our collective efforts to highlight and deepen Armenian studies on campus,” Karapetian said. “The addition of this collection amplifies and complements that effort both symbolically and instrumentally by marking USC as an invaluable home to multi-disciplinary scholarship in Armenian studies.”

Other speakers at an event celebrating the collection included Mane Berikyan, vice president of the USC Armenian Students’ Association; filmmaker Carla Garapedian; and historian Taner Akçam, inaugural director of the Armenian Genocide Research Program at UCLA. Armenian Film Foundation chairman and USC alumnus Jerry Papazian emceed the event, which was co-sponsored by the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research, the Armenian Film Foundation, the National Association for Armenian Sutdies and Reseach, the Organization of Istanbul Armenians, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies and the USC Armenian Students’ Association.

Processing of the collection is ongoing, but the majority of the English-language books have now been catalogued and are available for use in the Holocaust and Genocide Studies room in Doheny Memorial Library. A collection-level finding aid is available for archival materials from the related Vahakn Dadrian Papers, acquired in 2019, and a selection of historic photographs and documents from that collection is accessible via the USC Digital Library.

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