Monday, January 23 2023 11:10

ArmInfo.The Armenian Youth Federation - Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) Washington DC "Ani" Chapter organized a  community protest on Saturday in front of the White House, demanding  that President Joe Biden and his administration take action against  Azerbaijan for its relentless, inhumane blockade of Artsakh,  armenianweekly.com reports. 

Over 100 Armenian community members and allies gathered in the early  afternoon, holding US, Artsakh and Armenian flags as well as  informational posters distributed by chapter members.

"Thank you all for being here today to stand shoulder-to-shoulder  with the people of Artsakh in this time of crisis," began AYF DC  "Ani" Chapter chair Nayiri Shahnazarian. The protest marked the 41st  day of the Artsakh blockade, which has isolated 120,000 people and  has barred their access to food, vital medicines, internet, gas and  electricity. "We are here today in front of the White House not only  to spread awareness of these atrocities, but also to demand that our  government - the Biden administration - pressure Azerbaijan to end  the blockade, stop all military aid to Azerbaijan, sanction  Azerbaijan for their war crimes, and provide emergency aid to  Artsakh," Shahnazarian continued. She then led the community into  chants condemning the aggressive actions taken by Azerbaijan and its  dictator Ilham Aliyev and calling for swift action from the Biden  Administration.

In attendance were several Armenians who had traveled from distant  hometowns to support this initiative.  Among them was prospective AYF  member Evan Aronow, who drove by himself from the Philadelphia area.  "I was happy to see Armenians coming out to stand in solidarity with  Artsakh, especially to demand that the United States cease its  military aid to the bloodthirsty Azeri regime," he said. "I'm happy  to see so many young Armenians care about our homeland, because the  reality is clear. We are fighting the same struggle for survival as  our ancestors."

AYF DC "Ani" Chapter Matthew Girardi delivered heartfelt remarks on  the role of both Americans and Diasporan Armenians in the current  humanitarian crisis. "The history of the Armenian people is not one  of ease or comfort. But lest we forget - through empires that rose  and fell, through our trauma and heartbreak, through our battles  fought and lost - ours is not the story of a people who perished.  Ours is the history of a people who survived," Girardi said. "So,  when the dust has settled, let it be known that when the call came,  we answered," he continued. "Let us be great Americans. Let us be  great Armenians. Let us remember how futures are built."

Chanting resumed between speakers' remarks with renewed vigor. Those  passing by on the street stopped to listen to the pleas: "End the  cycle of genocide," "Break the blockade," and "Stop a second Armenian  Genocide." 

AYF-YOARF ER Central Executive member and AYF DC "Ani" Chapter member  Areni Margossian took to the microphone to ask "What will it take?  What will it take for you, President Biden, to act against this  critical humanitarian crisis before it unfolds into even greater  atrocities?" Margossian then urged the audience to "channel pain into  action" and commit themselves to continuing to fight for Artsakh. "We  are all we have, and that is a lot. Artsakh is Armenia, [it] will  always be Armenia, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to a  free, independent, and united Armenia," she concluded.

"Keep up the pressure on Congress and [on] the Biden Administration,"  urged Shahnazarian in her closing remarks, "until our brothers and  sisters [can] break free from this blockade." Shahnazarian concluded  by urging protesters to channel their efforts into tangible steps  through the Armenian National Committee of America's action platform.

The next protest in the DC area will be at the US Capitol on  Thursday, February 2 at 1 pm, which coincides with the pro-Artsakh  advocacy days organized by the ANCA Eastern Region.