CHICAGO, Ill.—On Wed., April 24, more than 100 demonstrators from Chicago’s Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Cypriot communities joined a protest organized by the Chicago “Ararat” Chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) against Turkey’s ongoing and aggressive campaign of denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The demonstrators gathered in front of Chicago’s NBC Tower, the new home of the Turkish Consulate, around 11 a.m. waving Armenian and American flags, holding signs, and chanting such phrases as “Recognize the Genocide,” “Turkey is a liar,” and “Turkey run, Turkey hide, Turkey is guilt of Genocide.” Soon after, small groups of Turkish and Azeri counter-demonstrators exited the building, presumably from the Turkish Consulate offices, to take up positions on the opposite side of the street from the Armenian picket lines.
The Turkish counter-demonstrators began shouting slogans and cursing in Turkish at the protestors as Turkish Consul General Fatih Yildiz looked on. At one point, the Turkish group began shouting, “You deserved it! You deserved it!” and “Talat was right!” referencing genocide-mastermind Talat Pasha and essentially admitting to Turkey’s culpability in the genocides of the Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks during and after World War I.
Despite repeated attempts by the Turks to intimidate and provoke the protestors even as Chicago police looked on, the AYF-led group maintained their discipline and continued with their picket for two hours. The protest concluded with the singing of “Mer Hairenik” and ‘Haratch Nahadag.”
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By shouting “You deserved it” they show that Genocide DID happen!! How smart of them!! Bunch of idiots!
The following is a quote by great American genius late Steve Jobs who was raised by Armenian family while visiting Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, Turkey asked his tour guide “You, Muslims, what did you do to so many Christians? You subjected 1.5 million Armenians to genocide”.
It was good to see the Assyrian flag flying along side the Armenian flags.
The Turkish counter “demonstration” only displays their foolishness and childish behavior.
We stand united.
with all the proof that was gathered over the years, rooms full
actually. is it not time to pay a visit to the international
high court at the hague. nothing more powerful than that.
what are we waiting for. time is of the essence.
Under Canadian Law, the shouters of you deserve it could be prosecuted under our Hate Speech Laws. Like Steve Jobs said “what happened to all those Christians in Turkey”.
If I had known about this I would have been there. Does AYF have a mailing list? How can we find out about demonstrations BEFORE they happen?
Yes we do, and we also usually send a flier out to the community. If you could shoot us an email to chicagoararat@gmail.com with your information we will make sure to update you next time there is a demonstration.
Do you guys have any proofs that the Turkish protestors were saying “Armenian Deaths were deserved”? Do you have any recorded video clips or tapes to back up that this incident happen. If you do, this should be condemned. If you don’t have videotaped or recorded proof, then you guys should not make up stories.
Well, as Oz freely trolls the AW site, take a good look at the posted photo. If there is a problem with it and you feel there may be deceit, perhaps a you can initiate a law suit.
Can it be proven the Turks weren’t saying that?
Oz, I heard it with my own ears. In addition, when I drove up between the two groups which were on opposite sides of the street in order to pick up my husband, a middle-aged woman in the Turkish group leaned in toward my window and said, “Shame on you!” She didn’t know me, but because she presumed I was Armenian, she felt compelled to deride me. Is an eye-witness report proof in your eyes?
what is taking so long for us armenians to give them what THEY
deserve. what is taking so long. i do not believe that waiting for the 100th. year is going to make much difference. we need unity.
general charles de gaulle, the president of france once said,
“l’union fait la force”,…. unity is power.