AYF Leads Washington DC Protest Against Azerbaijani Aggression

Armenian community's principled calls for peace confronted by angry Azerbaijani counter-protesters

Armenians want peace. Azerbaijan wants war: As AYF Washington DC Chair Alex Manoukian’s peace sign was met with Azerbaijani/Turkish “Grey Wolves” terrorist signs. Photo: Kristine Antanesian

WASHINGTON, DC – An Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Washington DC Ani chapter-led community-wide protest against Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenia was met by a hostile pro-Aliyev mob that, under the direction of Azerbaijani Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, unloaded a toxic barrage of hate-speech and threats of violence.

“Armenians want peace, Azerbaijan wants war” was the Armenian American community’s message of the day on Sunday, as they flashed peace signs and condemned the Azerbaijani targeting of civilians, which resulted in the bombing of a kindergarten in Tavush’s Aygepar village, the temporary closing of a PPE mask-making factory, and even Azerbaijani threats to shell Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov videotaping as Azerbaijani demonstrators hurled toxic hate-speech at Armenian Americans demanding peace. Photo: Haykaram Nahapeyan, H1 TV.

Ambassador Suleymanov was videotaping and speaking on his phone as his followers participated in a bizarre mixture of yelling hateful slogans and joyful dancing in the face of the President Aliyev-ordered onslaught, which began on July 12th, that has left at least 15 Azerbaijani soldiers dead, with reports of more casualties. At times, the protesters were inches apart, with police protecting Armenian Americans against advancing Azerbaijani counter-protesters.

Video from the protest was broadcast live on the AYF Eastern U.S., ANCA, and Voice of America Armenian Division Facebook pages and included on-site coverage by H1 Television.

“We saw Aliyev export his aggression to the streets of Washington, DC today – under Ambassador Suleymanov’s direction; but we delivered our message of peace and support for the Armenian Homeland,” said AYF DC Chapter Chairman Alex Manoukian. “It is long past time for the international community to stop the fake, even-handed peace rhetoric and issue a clear condemnation of Azerbaijan’s attacks. Anything less only emboldens Aliyev’s war-mongering.”

AYF treasurer Kristine Antanesian offered powerful remarks in Armenian, sharing the Armenian American community’s unflinching support for Armenian soldiers defending the nation, and enduring commitment to a free, independent and united homeland.

The Washington, DC protest was part of a worldwide chain of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Youth-organized demonstrations in Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom and in the Armenian homeland. In addition to toxic rhetoric, Armenian protesters were attacked in London and targeted by rock throwers in the Netherlands. In the US, additional protests are planned in Los Angeles, with the AYF Western U.S.-led effort taking place at the Azerbaijani consulate on Tuesday, July 21st at 2:00pm PDT.

The AYF has joined the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in calling on Congress to support a series of amendments to restrict US military aid to Azerbaijan and continue U.S. demining assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). Congressional votes are scheduled the week of July 20th. To support the effort, visit anca.org/alert and anca.org/call.

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AYF-YOARF
Founded in 1933, The Armenian Youth Federation is an international, non-profit, youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). The AYF-YOARF Eastern United States stands on five pillars that guide its central activities and initiatives: Educational, Hai Tahd, Social, Athletic and Cultural. The AYF also promotes a fraternal attitude of respect for ideas and individuals amongst its membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow members of the organization to work together to realize the AYF’s objectives.

1 Comment

  1. That was a very patriotic and pretty speech in Armenian by Kristine Antanesian.

    How did so many unruly Turkbaijani savages end up at that Washington DC protest? From the videos, you can easily see that they are newcomers to America; therefore, the question in all of this is how is it that these kinds of filthy hyenas are allowed to immigrate to the USA? Not only is the USA rapidly deteriorating, but it has also become a gigantic, filthy melting pot filled with so many wild animals.

    Peace? Exactly how is it possible to establish peace with Azerbaijan, who continuously wishes to conquer the remaining part of the Armenian homeland and make Yerevan the capital of “Western Azerbaijan”? Just observe the behavior of our opponents in those videos; they certainly don’t want any kind of peace; on the contrary, they want to destroy the Armenian people.

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