Wednesday, February 28 2024 14:15

ArmInfo. A record number of Armenian Americans cast "uncommitted" votes in Michigan's Democratic presidential primary today as a protest against President Joe Biden's complicity in Azerbaijan's genocide of Artsakh's indigenous Armenians, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).  

"Joe Biden made his choice - arming Azerbaijan's genocide of Armenians. Today, we made ours - holding him accountable for enabling this crime," stated ANCA National Board Member and Michigan leaderDzovinar Hatsakordzian. "We are proud to have done our part, delivering record-level Armenian voter turnout that helped drive a strong state-wide showing for the 'uncommitted' campaign." Hatsakodordzian,  in an op/ed published in The Armenian Weekly earlier this month,  shared the litany of reasons why Michigans Armenians cast  "uncommitted" ballots, including:  - Biden materially armed and  morally emboldened Azerbaijan's genocide of Artsakh.  - Biden has  refused to condemn Azerbaijan's crimes. He conducts business as usual  with its genocidal government, and he refuses to enforce sanctions  against its leaders.  - Biden sent zero aid to Artsakh prior to  Azerbaijan's blockade and has sent almost no aid to the refugees  created by Azerbaijan's aggression.  - Biden blocked United Nations  initiatives to condemn Azerbaijan and has, post- genocide, failed to  lead, introduce, or even support U.N. resolutions to enable the safe  return of Armenians to Artsakh under an international mandate.  -  Biden has opposed each and every congressional measure aimed at  holding Azerbaijan accountable, supporting Artsakh refugees, or  securing the release of Armenian POWs.  - Biden approved the sale of  F-16s to Turkey, even though Turkey illegally deployed these advanced  fighters to Azerbaijan during its 2020 attack.  ANCA Executive  Director Aram Hamparian explained, "It has always been bad policy to  back Azerbaijan's genocidal Aliyev regime. Now it's bad politics   too." In the days leading up to the Michigan Democratic primary,  news outlets, including POLITICO and the New York Times, cited the  role of the ANCA and Michigan Armenian voters in fueling the growing  "uncommitted" vote movement.  ANCA pushed back against claims by  Biden aides, reported in POLITICO, that the President's 2021  recognition of the Armenian Genocide was proof of his "human rights  bona fides."  ANCA Programs Director Alex Galitsky explained, "Seeing  the outrage of Armenian American voters, Biden's aides are trying to  cover up his complicity in Azerbaijan's genocide of Artsakh by  cynically instrumentalizing his recognition of the Armenian Genocide  to score political points. Armenian Americans won't be fooled twice."  The ANCA ran an extended X (formerly known as Twitter) campaign  citing the vital role Armenian Americans will be playing during  Democratic primaries in key swing states.  "In 2020, Biden carried   Michigan - a state with 72,000 Armenian Americans - by just 154,188  votes (50.6% to 47.8%)," stressed the ANCA, noting that "the path to  victory goes through Michigan." Based on community demographic  research, the ANCA estimates there are 206,000 Armenians across the  six swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada,  and Wisconsin - positioned to play a decisive role in the  hotly-contested 2024 presidential election.