All-ASA to Coordinate Silent Protest against Denial of Armenian Genocide

LOS ANGELES—On Thurs., Feb. 4, the All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA) will be coordinating the annual “Stain of Denial” silent protest against denial of the Armenian Genocide, simultaneously held by ASA chapters on their respective college and university campuses. The event is co-sponsored by the Western and Eastern Regions of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Shant” Student Association, Alpha Gamma Alpha, and Alpha Epsilon Omega.

On Feb. 4, the All-ASA will be coordinating the annual “Stain of Denial” silent protest against denial of the Armenian Genocide

“Stain of Denial” is organized to engage college students in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide, its ongoing denial, and the need for recognition and reparations. The protest is held every winter to symbolize the fact that genocide denial by nations including the Republic of Turkey and the United States continuously occurs throughout the year and not only on April 24, the day in 1915 that is typically cited as the beginning of the systematic deportation and extermination of Armenians and other minorities in the Ottoman Empire.

The protest will concurrently take place on campuses throughout the United States from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST (1 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST), along with complimentary activity on social media that specifically incorporates the hashtags #StainOfDenial, #ArmenianGenocide, and #DivestTurkey, aimed at augmenting the event’s exposure.

The messaging of the protest at each campus will highlight three themes: history of the genocide, its consequences and contemporary conditions of affected Armenians worldwide, and current student action. The third theme specifically highlights resolutions that ASAs have passed through their student government councils, including both Armenian Genocide recognition and divestment bills; the latter targets the more than $70 million of University of California funds allocated toward the Turkish government as a part of the #DivestTurkey initiative.

The All-ASA openly invites alumni, graduate students, faculty, non-Armenian student organizations, and the general public to join their respective campus’s ASA chapters in the call for justice, either in-person or on social media if they are unable to physically participate.

The protest will concurrently take place on campuses throughout the United States from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST (1 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST)

The All-ASA released a statement preceding the protest that read: “The Armenian Genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million people and forced the dispersion of Armenians throughout the world. The Republic of Turkey, a descendant regime of the Ottoman Empire, has led a denial campaign since its founding to stave off responsibility for necessary reparations, setting a cyclical precedent for the repression of justice. The United States, under political pressure from Turkey, has also refused to acknowledge the genocide by its rightful classification. As Armenian Americans, we believe that politics and humanity need to be held in separate realms. The ‘Stain of Denial’ is a tool to educate each campus’s community about the Armenian experience and the cycle of genocide.”

ASA chapters participating in this year’s “Stain of Denial” include those based at Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, the Claremont Colleges, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles Valley College, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College, UC Los Angeles, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and the University of Southern California.

For the first time in its history, “Stain of Denial” will also include universities outside of California as well; Armenian students at Northeastern and Tufts Universities located in Boston, Mass., and at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., will be participating.

Information on “Stain of Denial,” including details about campus protest locations, can be found at www.all-asa.org. To stage a silent protest on your campus on Feb., e-mail the All-ASA at executives@all-asa.org.

The All-Armenian Student Association works to unite various Armenian-American college student organizations and serve the greater Armenian-American community through cultural, social, educational, and activist programming. As the largest confederation of ASAs in the nation, All-ASA is dedicated to collaboration among its constituent organizations, leadership development of its members, and community service.