Mass. High School Students Lead Efforts to Pass Armenian Genocide Resolution

High school students in Massachusetts are petitioning their state's Congressional Delegation to initiate efforts to have a resolution on the Armenian genocide passed in the U.S. Congress. (Photo: ArmenianWeekly.com)

The Armenian Weekly published the following article earlier ths month.

LEXINGTON, Mass.-Two high school seniors are leading efforts to mobilize their classmates and high school students across eastern Massachusetts in support of H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, reported the Armenian National Committee.

Nairi Khachatourian and Sosse Beugekian, both seniors at Lexington High School [in Massachusetts], began circulating a petition calling on the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to lead efforts to ensure passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

"What an amazing way for students to become involved," stated Sharistan Melkonian of the Armenian National Committee. "Nairi and Sosse are role models to a generation of activists and are proving that one person (or two) can make a difference. We hope their action will encourage other individuals to also be creative and to make a difference."

Nairi and Sosse began circulating the petition in their own high school but then reached out to friends in other communities.

The petition now has signers from Lexington, Watertown, Natick, Lincoln-Sudbury, Waltham, Belmont, Newton, and Arlington.

H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, calls on the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

[Exactly] 213 members of Congress, including every one of the Congressmen from Massachusetts, have co-sponsored H. Res.106.

Asked why they were targeting the Massachusetts delegation, all of whom have already co-sponsored the resolution, Khachatourian said, "We appreciate that the Congressmen from Massachusetts have all co-sponsored H. Res.106, but co-sponsoring the Resolution is not enough. We need their leadership now more than ever to get the resolution passed."

"High school students are more interested than ever in making a difference," said Beugekian. "We are a powerful and energetic voice and we know what we want. And we want to do everything possible to ensure that this resolution passes this year."

Khachatourian and Beugekian, both 18 years old, will graduate on May 23, 2008. Khachatourian will attend Boston University in the fall, and Beugekian will attend Suffolk University.

The petition calls on members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to urge their colleagues to vote yes on the Resolution.

The petition reads:

We the undersigned, students in the Greater Boston area, strongly believe that H. Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, should pass when it is sent to the House floor. It is very important to show the world that "genocide," "ethnic cleansing," and "racial discrimination" will not be overlooked and that we are committed to ending and preventing genocide. As students who are becoming adults and going into "the real world," we are beginning to realize the important role that the United States can play on important issues. And, as soon-to-be voters, we are more and more interested in these matters. We thank you for your co-sponsorship of H. Res.106 and ask you to urge your colleagues to take a stand and support this Resolution. How can we expect to end and prevent genocide in the future if we refuse to properly acknowledge a genocide of the past?

Nairi and Sosse launched their petition on April 24 at the Greater Boston Community Armenian Genocide Commemoration and intend to circulate the petition through May 22.

Source: ArmenianWeekly.com

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