Thousands in Los Angeles Protest Armenia-Turkey Protocols
Diaspora — By Liana Aghajanian on October 4, 2009 11:48 pm
An Armenian crowd of thousands covering three blocks of Wilshire Blvd. protested against the Armenia-Turkey protocols on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, as Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with notable members of the Armenian diaspora at the Beverly Hilton for a gala banquet to discuss and receive feedback about the protocols. The protest, organized by the “Stop the Protocols” campaign drew Armenians from all over Los Angeles, many who were bussed in from various locations.
With screen printed t-shirts bearing the phrases “Stop the Protocols” and “The World Demands Turkey to Recognize the Armenian Genocide Now” and homemade signs that read “No Concession Without Reparation” and “Armenia is Not For Sale,” the crowd addressed Sargysan directly and continually called out “traitor” and “shame on you Sargsyan, we want a free Armenia” in Armenian.
“He’s here trying to convince the diaspora that these protocols are good for Armenia, whereas our stance is that we want peace and normalization with Turkey, but we don’t want it at the cost of selling our historical rights and rights to our land, and that’s what these protocols are doing,” Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) chairman Arek Santikian said. Santikian, who expected a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 protesters expressed hope that the organized protests could affect the outcome of the protocols, which are expected to be signed by Armenia and Turkey as soon as Oct.10.
“The Armenian diaspora feels very much a part of Armenia, and we don’t agree with these protocols and we want him to take that into consideration,” he said.
The protest in Los Angeles, which houses the second largest number of Armenians outside of Armenia, came on the heels of Sargsyan’s visit to diaspora communities in New York and Paris as part of a week long diaspora tour.
“We, Armenia and the diaspora, are one family. I simply want to speak to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, hear their views and – why not? – consult them,” said Sargsyan in response to question posed by the editors of the Armenian Reporter that is posted on his official site.
Sargsyan has met with strong opposition in both New York and Paris, where crowds clashed with French police. The atmosphere wasn’t any different in Los Angeles, where many, like Zaruhi Najarian echoed Santikian’s sentiments.
“The president is obviously here to get the diaspora’s opinion and we’re hoping that he will take our opinion into consideration and not sign the protocols,” Najarian, who expected to be at the protest until 8 p.m. said.
As the crowd tripled in size in a matter of hours, groups of young protesters were divided into teams in the Armenian flag colors of red, blue and orange and dispersed throughout Wilshire Blvd. U-haul trucks with ”Don’t Betray Us” written in Armenian and the faces of Sargsyan and Turkish President Abdullah Gül plastered across them drove up and down the street. Armenian flags were waved in the air while a poster of Sargsyan opponents who were imprisoned following the aftermath of the violent crackdown on March 1, 2008 was strung up on a pole.
At the end of the block, the “Hye Riders” motorcycle club clad in their signature leather jackets bearing the Armenian crest observed the crowd.
“We’re against what’s going on with Armenia and the President,” Hye Riders president and founder Berdj Kasbarian said, adding that he would not want an agreement under any conditions.”I don’t give up any lands,” he said. Kasbarian, who started the Hye Riders club in 1999 was hopeful that protests would stop Sargsyan from signing the protocols and was proud of the turnout.
“I see a lot of Armenians with different backgrounds and that makes me very happy,” he said.
As protest organizers on loud speakers shouted “Armenians united, will never be divided,” Aleek Sherikian, dressed in a “Stop the Protocols” t-shirt expected to be protesting until 12 a.m.
“The future of Armenia is in question right now,” she said. “Economically, we are not doing well, and I believe this will make it worse.”
Sherikian also said she preferred that Sargsyan resign from his position and be replaced with someone who can handle the protocols more favorably.
Vic Sarian, who was crossing the street to the Beverly Hilton in order to get a better view of the large crowd and take photos would like to see the post of the president scraped all together.
“I want Armenia to have a king,” Sarian said in Armenian. “Because if we have a president, he will trick us again. Armenians are a very tricky culture, therefore only a king can save us. I’ve come here today to say I don’t want a president, I want a king, no matter who it is.”
Sarian said he feels a king would solve the problem of corrupt politicians.
Some who observed the crowd from across the street grew visibly upset at the constant cries of “traitors” with accompanying posters, as well as a doll fashioned in the likeness of Sargsyan, which was being continually hit with a sandal.
“Turks wouldn’t do such things, because they still know how to respect their leaders,” said Lila, an older woman who has been living in Los Angeles for around 25 years and declined to give her last name. “They can show [Sargsyan's] faults, but not accuse people of being traitors,” she said in Armenian.
Lila, whose parents are from Van, discredited the nationalistic fervor of the crowd. “My dad was a Revolutionary and these people are not acting like real Revolutionaries. What is the meaning of calling someone a traitor?”
“These are political matters that not everyone is equipped to deal with” she said, adding that she was disappointed with the tactics of the crowd.
As the sun set, the large and visibly angry crowd rushed towards the hotel but were barricaded by police. The Armenian National Anthem was also sung and hundreds stayed behind after dark for a candlelight vigil to honor victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Many who were present made use of social media by tweeting about the event, including the Western chapter of AYF who posted photos, commentary and video of the day-long protests and Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee who wrote “After Paris, NYC, and LA who will toast serj?”
“Sargsyan unable to defend his worthless protocols! Tell him how you feel! Lose your voice if you must, but don’t lose your rights!” wrote student Meline Vartabedian.
All photos © www.ianyanmag.com
Tags: armenia-turkey protests, armenia-turkey protocols, armenian diaspora, beverly hilton, serge sargsyan, serzh sarkisian
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31 Comments
Great report, great photos so well done, but just thing. How many people did protest? Was it the 2-3,000 people Arek Santikian says were expected? Los Angeles News says thousands (as opposed to tens of thousands) which isn’t very large at all given the size of the community there. In fact, it’s not significant at all.
Meanwhile, my only one issue with the piece is the use of the word “massive” in connection to the Paris protests. There were just 200-300 people there which is really small from a city population of 200,000 ethnic Armenians. Even so, great reporting, especially the reference to desires for a “King.”
Is almost as a bad as Diaspora hopes for a “benevolent dictator,” in Armenia, as if the country doesn’t already have enough problems with a feudal clan-based system…
Los Angeles Police estimate 3,000 people according to Armenia Now.
http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=4117&CID=3933&IID=1255&lng=eng
This is nothing, IMHO…
Thank you Onnik – “massive” retracted. Got my sources minced.
I want Armenia to have a king,Because if we have a president, he will trick us again. Armenians are a very tricky culture, therefore only a king can save us. I’ve come here today to say I don’t want a president, I want a king, no matter who it is.” – thats sounds too funny =)
I guess ordinary people cannot understand many things above emotions and one should be hostages of the history
Of course, asbarez.com reports “more than 12,000″ in Los Angeles protests… what a big difference from 3,000. It’s so difficult to get an accurate number of protesters, generally speaking, isn’t it?
Here’s the Asbarez article: http://www.asbarez.com/2009/10/04/more-than-12000-protest-sarkisian-protocols-in-los-angeles/
Giorgi, I’m really sorry, but the problem with the presidency is that it does consider itself to be a monarchy with absolute power. This is the Caucasus.
Ah, sorry, Giorgi, I misunderstood. You were quoting from Liana’s piece. Thought you were saying the same thing. Sorry for the confusion. Please ignore my last comment.
Adrineh, the inability to accurately estimate numbers is either a sign of partisanship or simply a lack of professionalism.
We (Artsakh), Armenia and Diaspora are one UNITY.
It is high time to prove it by opposing president and the protocols.
The future of Armenia and Armenians is in question right now.
If we succeed we can call ourselves a real nation and be proud of it. Otherwise ….
Thanks for the great reporting and pictures. I appreciated also the tweets you were sending out last night – kept us all in the loop.
The “king” comment hit me too. It says a lot.
Thanks again for a great publication.
Nothing says “support Armenia” and “get rid of oligarchs and gangsters” like a big yellow Hummer (okay, I realize that’s not the message–just wishful thinking!). Pretty scary pre-Halloween poster though. Looks way too much like this one
http://tinyurl.com/4vpwoh
wonder if that Hummer has a ‘balloon’?
Great report, great pictures.
A correction, Moscow is home to the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, not Los Angeles, which is second.
Liana,
Thank you for this report and for the images. Well done.
john hughes
ArmeniaNow.com
Oh dear, what a farce. Any excuse for a protest. Any excuse for Armenians to gather in large crowds and don some ghastly red, blue and orange attire. I bet half those imbeciles don’t even know what they’re protesting against. Just there for the ride. Hanging onto this genocide crap like a drunkard hangs onto a lamppost.
As for the king comments – The only king that can save us is KING KONG. By stomping on and eradicating these worthless shits who insist on organising and turning up for these public Armenian freak shows.
I can’t believe some of the comments on this page. I take it you enlightened people support the protocols? Your spelling errors are proof enough of your intelligence levels.
I bet you’re the special ones who just sit at home and always criticize but never do anything for your nation.
I’ve come across Onnik’s ignorance on mulitple websites and know how useless his online commentaries are, but if the rest of you really think the Genocide issue is up for discussion I’m ashamed for you.
Ani, thanks very much for your “reasoned” discussion on the matter. If you actually look at those posts you react against with personal attacks, you’ll see I quote and reference respected analysts and other journalists on the matter.
Now, I wonder, where’s your attempt to address those opinions based on discussion, debate and non-personal communication? Nowhere. It’s just knee-jerk and reactionary without the ability to add anything of note to the conversation.
Nice one…
But actually, Ani’s response and attack on pretty much everyone, singling me out which great because she sees me as a threat and is unable to address any of the content of my own blog post in their comments sections, says a lot.
It shows a blinkered and intolerant position on freedom of speech and the right for people to think not in ways demanded by the ARF-D or any of those parties centered around Ter-Petrossian.
Instead, engage in discussion and debate, Ani. Add to it with facts, arguments and counter-arguments. And if you can’t, well, you just proved Humpig Chakletian right.
Liana, thanks very much and well done for creating the first truly independent platform for discussion and debate in Armenian circles. It’s sorely needed and what many in Armenia and the Diaspora fear the most.
Incidentally, just for Ani to show that Armenians everywhere are able to hold different positions to those that she reacts against and attacks for without being able to argue any points or issues on the matter.
http://agbublog.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/joint-statement/
I’m no expert in Armenian politics, but it seems to me like we are reacting exactly as expected by Turkey. Anyone who’s every been to Armenia will have noticed the different reaction many people there have to this kind of issue.
I’ve lived in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles and Shanghai – all cities with active Armenian communities. I attended Armenian school from kindergarten through 12th grade; and I was conditioned to feel repulse and anger toward anything Turkish. And I really did until a few years ago.
I believe people in Armenia feel differently. Turkey is and always will be their neighbor. Many people in Armenia feel they would benefit from the normalization of relations with Turkey, and it is very likely that a sizable portion of the population actually supports these protocols. The opening of the common border is very likely to lead to increased economic opportunity – and this is something I believe many people there are yearning for; especially in times of economic depression.
-If they have to give up the right to all future territorial claims; then so be it.
-If they have to have historians take a good look at the Genocide to determine whether or not it happened, then so be it.
I believe Armenians in Armenia are much more concerned with making a living, than with hating Turks for their past atrocities and current denialist posture. Let’s not forget that while our ancestors all suffered and left the region; these people are still there, and still suffering from not just past Turkish atrocities, but also a weak economy, rampant corruption, inflation, and an overall lack of hope that the future holds something better for them.
The problem is that we – the Diaspora – have no real interest in the Armenian economy; or how the population makes their living. A man who is desperate to feed his family is more likely to put his opinions aside today if it means his children will not starve to death tomorrow.
So, from Turkey’s point of view – what better way to create a division between Armenia and the Diaspora; than by linking both the normalization of relations and the eventual opening of the border; with the veracity of our claims of Genocide?
Turkey has everything to gain by turning the Diaspora against the current government in Armenia. The Diaspora is Armenia’s strongest ally. Our grass-roots organizations worldwide have made many of their host countries recognize the mass-killings by the Turkish government for what they really are – Genocide. What better way to put all these efforts in question than by having the Government of the Republic of Armenia agree to have historians look into the matter? The Government of the RA would not have politically survived the outright refusal of this deal. It seems to me that Turkey pulled a fast one on all of us – not without a public debate which would have been detrimental to all parties involved, but especially to the current government.
We should all stop reacting so predictably. This is exactly what Turkey expects.
What would happen if one were to suggest that a commission be formed to study whether the Holocaust took place? In the United States, a country that shamefully refuses to recognize the Genocide; one would called an anti-semite, be ostracized by the media, and looked down upon by the uninformed masses. It would not be a stretch to believe that one could be thrown in jail for hate crimes – at least until people came back to their senses.
Such is the talent of the Jewish people. And although Israel refuses to recognize our Genocide too, I believe there is a lesson to be learned.
Let’s denounce the protocols on the basis that anyone who suggests the Genocide is up for discussion is a criminal. Forget about the corruption, the war for Artsakh, future territorial and monetary claims, and all the other parts of these documents that seem to be flawed. Everything else takes away from the fact that THE GENOCIDE WILL NEVER BE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
Let’s stop arguing amongst ourselves and make this issue strictly about the Genocide. No one will dare argue against it. Not even the Government of Armenia.
I think what happened in Armenia is partially if not largely Diaspora’s fault. They want to comfortably live in Western countries and only when something crucial comes up they stand up. They are afraid to invest their money, they are afraid to move there, they label Armenia as corrupt and want to stay away from Armenia. Or they donate some money to have clear conscious, which in turn feeds the corruption. And now, surprise they complain. I salute those Diaspora Armenians that moved there, or invested in Armenia’s Economy but considering the size of the Armenian Diaspora very minimal has been done. Yes, there are oligarchs in Armenia, there is corruption in Armenia but some Diaspora Armenians still run successful businesses. Why not to consult with those people? The truth is that Armenia was and is suffering from brain drainage. And this is the consequence. Armenia does not need Diaspora’s donations it needs investments in the economy so that people can work and earn their living, so that country’s GDP will grow and so on and so forth. I think Diaspora Armenians have to gather and make a decision either they want to be part of Armenia and actively invest and move to Armenia or just leave Armenia on her own.
we are in Aleppo-Syria can’t go outside and say VOCH , but we are here with you and i song in Armenian (araradi kakatin tknem toukin gagadin ,shoshi kakatin tknem serg sarksiani gagadin )
gtza A.R.F.
Different Ani, btw
Ani (2), I know
60,000 people marching in Yerevan today against the protocols:
http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=4138&CID=3949&IID=1256&lng=eng
I apply to Armenian citizenship, but I will ask my application back because I am not sure I will become Armenian citizen or Turkish. I am sure our stupid government will sell our country to built one more mention.
Onnik? are you the Onnik who is for sexual revolution in Armenia?
Hayrenaser, LOL! As if there are no actual citizens who might want one?
There’s Facebook group at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113981373780
And no. I didn’t set it up…
Hello, I was going through Google and i found this. I see people were debating the number of people that attended. The number that was realised was about 12,000. Usually with Protests, the LAPD has a tendency to extremely low ball their numbers. But to date, I believe that it was the largest Armenian Related Protest in LA History.
In terms of it being the largest Armenian-related protest in L.A. history,I believe you’re right. In terms of it being 12,000 – from someone who was there and arrived before the protest and watched it grow for several hours, 12,000 is an incorrect and inflated number. If that was the case, several streets would have been blocked and traffic would have been very heavily affected. You would know 10 or 12,000 people when you saw them, and that was nowhere near that number. Although the majority of Armenian press have reported numbers around 12,000, I would say the maximum number was 4,000.
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