A Nation of Tolerance

As youth who believe in the program and ideology of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), we stand united in a collective call against intolerance.

We envision our homeland as a nation of acceptance, where everyone—regardless of ethnic background, professional and personal background, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or political leanings—has a place to participate in the building of our free and independent nation, and advancing our collective cause of justice and freedom.

As socialist youth, we believe in the inalienable rights bestowed upon every human being and the pursuit of a just society where every member lives with dignity, and has the ability to express their identities freely without fear of persecution or threat to one’s safety. We categorically reject all manifestations of national or ethnic supremacy, chauvinism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, and all other forms of prejudice, which stand in the way of progress.

As democratic youth, we believe in and encourage pluralism and the free exchange of ideas to formulate public accord and consensus concerning issues of national importance.

As nationalist youth, we believe in utilizing the full potential of the Armenian nation, a goal only attainable when every Armenian is empowered, accepted, and welcomed in our nation, and when no Armenian is marginalized, stigmatized, or oppressed.

And as revolutionary youth, we are dedicated to utilizing all of our resources to defend and protect the political, economic, social, and cultural interests of the Armenian nation. Though our struggle is carried out by democratic means, we believe revolution is necessary if democracy is obstructed. The revolution sweeping Armenia can only be successful if it results in tangible benefits for every member of Armenian society—to exclude any such segment is a hindrance to the potential of the revolution and its sustainability in bringing real, lasting change.

The ARF’s strength is in its ideology, in its organizational structure, in the commitment of its individual members and supporters, in its past, and most importantly, in the collective Armenian people. Let us all work together, hand-in-hand, for the sustainable development of both the individual Armenian and the Armenian nation as a whole.

We welcome all to take on the mantle of the Armenian Cause and we will work with anyone for the creation of a more just Armenia—by any means necessary.

  • Levon Abrahamian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Chant Afarian (Laval, QC, Canada)
  • Khajag Aintabian (Anjar, Lebanon)
  • Manoug Alemian (Montreal, QC, Canada)
  • Tamar Alexanian (Chicago, IL, USA)
  • Lilit Amiryan (Glendale, CA, USA)
  • Harout Arabian (Yerevan, Armenia)
  • Harout Baghamian (Jerusalem)
  • Rita Bahnan (Worcester, MA, USA)
  • Ida Barsoumian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Lori Bashian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Knar Bedian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Haig Bedros (New York, NY, USA)
  • Misak Belian (St. Catharines, ON, Canada)
  • Elia Bilemjian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Lori Boghigian (New York, NY, USA)
  • Hrant Boujikian (Sydney, Australia)
  • Daniel Chakmakjian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Samuel Chakmakjian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Alique Cherchian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Araz Chiloyan (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Garen Chiloyan (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Varant Chiloyan (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Serge Dekermenjian (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Harutyun Demirjian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Van Der Megerdichian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nyrie Dikijian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Salbi Dilanchian (Sydney, Australia)
  • Lucy Dishoian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Hakop Hajibekyan (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Asbed Harmandayan (Paris, France)
  • Karnig Hasserjian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Karina Hasserjian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Raffi Hasserjian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Arpa Hatzbanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Austin Helie (Worcester, MA, USA)
  • Arev Hovsepian (New York, NY, USA)
  • Charig Hovsepian (Paris, France)
  • Abraham Iskajyan (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Gev Iskajyan (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Rupen Janbazian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Knar Kahkejian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Hrag Karakashian (Stuttgart, Germany)
  • Joseph Kaskanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Harout Kassabian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Mirna Kassamanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Hovik Kassapian (Thessaloniki, Greece)
  • Anahis Kechejian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Arakel Khaligian (Kenosha, WI, USA)
  • Khatchig Khatcherian (Beirut, Lebanon)
  • Araz Kojayan (Beirut, Lebanon)
  • Anoush Krafian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Nairi Krafian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Nare Kupelian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Taleen Lachinian (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Maria Maadanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Razmig Maadanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Sevana Manoukian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Aram Manoukian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • George Mardirosian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Daron Markarian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Taleen Markarian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Christina Mehranbod (New York, NY, USA)
  • Carl Melkonian (Melbourne, Australia)
  • Hovig Melkonian (Gladysdale, Australia)
  • Gregory Mikhanjian (Tustin, CA, USA)
  • Haig Minasian (Yorba Linda, CA, USA)
  • Shant Mirzaians (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Alek Ohanian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Berj Parseghian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Apo Sahakian (Jerusalem)
  • Krikor Sahakian (Jerusalem)
  • Anaheed Sarian (Sydney, Australia)
  • Razmig Sarkissian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Arek Santikian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nairi Sharabkhanian (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Kareen Shatikian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Deeown Shaverdian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Sanan Shirinian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Lori A. Sinanian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Antranig Telliyan (Toronto, ON, Canada)
  • Michelle Tervandian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Meline Thebarge (Boston, MA, USA)
  • Verginie Touloumian (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Aram Tufenkjian (Sydney, Australia)
  • Jacqueline Tufenkjian (Sydney, Australia)

Those who wish to sign this statement can do so by writing to: anationoftolerance@gmail.com

Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

2 Comments

  1. Notice literally none of them are from Armenia. That’s because we aren’t brainwashed anasuns. Keep you leftist propaganda to yourself.

  2. I am very inspired by these young progressives. Abrek! I wish political parties in Armenia can come up with such a strong position away from backward values, misogyny and homophobia which seem that now prevail in the conservatives discourse as a way to distort political reality in the country. I have a feel that 21st century will be defined by such youth both in Armenia and Diaspora.

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