{"id":8081,"date":"2016-04-09T20:36:51","date_gmt":"2016-04-09T20:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=8081"},"modified":"2016-04-09T20:36:51","modified_gmt":"2016-04-09T20:36:51","slug":"stopaliyev-protest-at-azerbaijani-embassy-demands-end-to-attacks-on-artsakh-more-than-3500-protest-in-la-against-bakus-aggression-hundreds-protest-in-ny-against-azerbaijani-aggression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=8081","title":{"rendered":"#StopAliyev Protest at Azerbaijani Embassy Demands End to Attacks on Artsakh; More than 3,500 Protest in LA against Baku\u2019s Aggression; Hundreds Protest in NY against Azerbaijani Aggression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Demonstration Part of Diaspora-Wide #ArtsakhStrong Advocacy Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n

(ARMENIAN WEEKLY) WASHINGTON\u2014Americans of Armenian heritage from across the Washington, D.C. area gathered on Fri., April 8, outside the Azerbaijani Embassy for a protest against Baku\u2019s ongoing military attacks against Nagorno-Karabagh. The demonstration was organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Sebouh Gomideh, in cooperation with the Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, and featured a strong showing of area youth from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Armenian General Athletic Union (Homenetmen), and the local Hamasdegh Armenian School.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Armenian crowd of more than 150 rallied outside Baku\u2019s diplomatic mission, just off of Washington\u2019s famed Embassy Row, brandishing printed banners and chanting pro-peace messages. They were met by a small counter-protest drawn from the families of Azerbaijani Embassy staff\u2014celebrating the Aliyev government\u2019s brutal onslaught that resulted in more than 100 casualties on both sides, including the death of 12-year-old boy and the execution and mutilation of an elderly Armenian couple in Talish.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stood strong today at Azerbaijan\u2019s Embassy in Washington\u2014in concert with Armenians in cities across the globe who are protesting Baku\u2019s violence\u2014to send a powerful message to Ilham Aliyev to stop his aggression against Nagorno-Karabagh,\u201d said ARF Sebouh Chapter Chairman and Chairman of the Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church Board of Trustees Aram Sarafian. \u201cAs Americans, we are appalled at Azerbaijan\u2019s reckless disregard for human life\u2014whether Armenian or Azeri\u2014and the Aliyev regime\u2019s deliberate violation of the 1994 ceasefire and ongoing negotiations brokered by the United States and other OSCE Minsk Group countries. Our commitment to a free and independent Artsakh is unyielding, and we continue to work to ensure the safety and security of the Armenian people.\u201d<\/p>\n

On April 2, just days after meeting with U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington, D.C., Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attacked Nagorno-Karabagh with heavy artillery and advanced weaponry that led to the death of more than 30 Armenians and scores of Azerbaijanis. More than 60 Armenian American organizations have called on President Barack Obama to clearly and publicly condemn Azerbaijan\u2019s attack and put in place concrete measures to ensure peace, including the zeroing out of all military assistance to Azerbaijan and enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act restrictions on U.S. aid to that country. The groups also called for the implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals and expanded assistance to the people of Artsakh to rebuild areas destroyed by Azerbaijani bombings.<\/p>\n

To view a gallery of protest photos, visit ARF Sebouh Gomideh\u2018s Facebook photo gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More than 3,500 Protest in LA against Baku\u2019s Aggression<\/strong><\/p>\n

Protesters Stage Spontaneous Sit-in<\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Asbarez)\u2014More than 3,500 community members heeded the calls from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) on Fri., April 8, and gathered in front of the Azerbaijani Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard to protest Baku\u2019s savage attacks on the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR\/Artsakh), where civilians and children also became targets of Azeri aggression.<\/p>\n

\"80416At one point during the peaceful rally, the protesters, who were huddled on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Granville Avenue, began crossing the street northbound and staged a spontaneous sit-in in the middle of the street, blocking eastbound and westbound traffic.<\/p>\n

Chanting, \u201cNot one inch,\u201d the protesters sent a clear message to the Azerbaijani authorities that no amount of aggression and gunfire will force Armenians to concede any territory in Artsakh.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), worked with organizers to ensure the safety of the protesters and those around them. The organizers thanked LAPD for their service, as well as the community around the consulate building for understanding the just cause for which the protest was staged.<\/p>\n

In fact, the messages delivered by the speakers were loud and resolute: As long as there is a threat to Armenians anywhere in the world\u2014and in this instance to the population of Artsakh\u2014the nation will come together to defend the homeland.<\/p>\n

AYF member Verginie Touloumian invited the crowd to observe the moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in defense of Artsakh and proceeded to read the names of those soldiers, civilians\u2014including the 12-year-old boy\u2014who died during last week\u2019s attacks by Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n

Areni Hamparian, a member of the AYF Junior Organization, delivered a moving speech, in Armenian, declaring that as long as there was an existential threat to Artsakh, or any other Armenian land, Armenians will continue to fight for justice.<\/p>\n

Puzant Berberian, a member of the AYF San Fernando Valley Sardarabad chapter spoke about attempts to distort facts and recounted Artsakh\u2019s centuries-old history as a bastion of Armenian culture and heroism.<\/p>\n

AYF Central Executive Chairman Gev Iskajian directed his remarks to the Azerbaijani Consulate by delivering a clear message of resistance and condemnation, saying that a nation that won the Artsakh war in the first place, has the resolve and the means to ensure that \u201cnot one inch\u201d of land is conceded and that the brutal savagery on display by Azerbaijan would not be tolerated.<\/p>\n

After rallying the crowd with messages of victory and heroism, Davit Arakelyan informed the crowd that the AYF\u2019s \u201cWith Our Soldiers\u201d campaign was busy working to ensure that our soldiers and families were taken care of; urged the crowd to assist in that effort; and encouraged the community to support Artsakh through the Armenian Relief Society\u2019s (ARS) fund that was established after last week\u2019s attacks.<\/p>\n

Arakelyan\u2019s message was clear: Armenians in Los Angeles and around the world will continue to fight until justice prevails and a Free, United, and Independent Armenia is established.<\/p>\n

The protesters vacated the street peacefully and moved to the front of the Consulate building, where after singing the Armenian national anthem, they collectively pledged their resolve and solidarity to Artsakh.<\/p>\n

This was part of the Western U.S. community mobilization effort in the wake of the renewed attacks on the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic, with members and activists coming together to voice their unified protest against the most large-scale attack on Karabagh since the 1994 ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n

Hundreds Protest in NY against Azerbaijani Aggression<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YORK, N.Y. (A.W.)\u2014Hundreds of Armenian Americans converged in New York on April 9 to participate in a peaceful protest against Azerbaijani aggression in the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR\/Artsakh). The demonstration was organized by the New York and New Jersey (\u201cArmen Garo\u201d and \u201cDro\u201d) chapters of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADLP\/Ramgavar Party). The protest took place at the Dag Hammarskj\u00f6ld Plaza, near the United Nations (U.N.) headquarters\u2014and around the corner from the Consulate General of Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n

A requiem prayer was observed by Fr. Mesrob Lakissian of St. Illuminator\u2019s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and Rev. Haig Kherlopian of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York, in memory of the Armenian servicemen who were killed in the recent hostilities in NKR.<\/p>\n

\"\"More than 300 protesters voiced their outrage over the recent violent attacks that were instigated by Azerbaijani forces against the peaceful residents of Karabagh.<\/p>\n

ARF Eastern U.S. Central Committee member Aram Hovagimian stressed the need for international condemnation of Baku\u2019s unprovoked attacks on the people of Karabagh. \u201cWe call on the United States and the international community to end their silence on [Azerbaijani] aggression. We also call on [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev to account for Azeri war crimes, including beheading of soldiers and the mutilation and execution of civilians,\u201d said Hovagimian.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only salvation of the Armenian people is through armed struggle,\u201d said ADLP-Ramgavar representative Norair Meguerditchian, in his address to protesters. \u201cThough we are not on the ground in NKR, we have a lot of work to do here as well\u2014through our lobby organizations such as the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America, we must put pressure in order to ensure Artsakh\u2019s safety,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Author and playwright Herand Markarian also addressed the crowd\u2014the youth in particular. \u201cYou, the youth, have gathered here today to tell the Turk and the Azeri that they cannot drive away our people [from our homeland] because we have a history [there],\u201d Markarian said in his address. \u201cArtsakh is not alone; Armenia is not alone. We\u2014the diaspora, Armenia, and Artsakh\u2014are one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to show the American government that we\u2019re here, and we\u2019re not going anywhere,\u201d said Ani Tchaghlasian, who spoke on behalf of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey<\/a>. \u201cAs citizens of this country, we demand that Artsakh is recognized today\u2014not tomorrow\u2026 You must all call your congressmen, call your senators, sign the letters on the ANCA website\u2014that\u2019s how change comes\u2026 Policy has to change here in the United States, for the war to end in Artsakh,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Below is video footage of the protest.<\/p>\n