In L.A., thousands show solidarity with protesters in Armenia

by Lory Tatoulian

Published: Saturday March 08, 2008

Hollywood, Calif. - A week after a demonstration protesting the presidential election results in Armenia was staged in Little Armenia, thousands of Armenians filled the streets of Hollywood once again on March 2; this time they gathered to show solidarity with the protesters who were being cleared from Freedom Square in Armenia.

A sea of people filled Hobart Street in Little Armenia, while organizers of the Coalition of a Democratic Armenia made speeches on a raised platform in front of thousands of protesters waving Armenian flags and chanting Levon­ Ter-Petrossian's name. The demonstrators demanded an end to violent clashes in Yerevan.

Dr. Hampig Sarafian, cochair of the Coalition of a Democratic Armenia and a member of the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, expressed the purpose of the rally: "We are here to show solidarity with our compatriots in Armenia who are getting assaulted by riot police," Mr. Sarafian said. "We are also asking that the political persecution of political leaders be stopped and that the U.S. government not recognize anybody as a legitimate president."

A petition was passed around at the rally, urging the U.S. State Department to demand from Armenian governmental authorities immediately to lift the state of emergency and restore the full constitutional rights of citizens. The petition also requests that the army and police units stop "harassing" civilians and give people the right to a peaceful gathering. And lastly, the petition asks that "political prisoners" be released and the results of the presidential election be annulled.

Tanya Terzian, a college student in her early twenties, came out to the protest to help organize and rally the people. During the week she saw disturbing images of civilians being beaten by police on YouTube and local Armenian television stations. These video clips prompted Ms. ­Terzian to get involved with the coalition and do as much as she could to galvanize the crowds.

"I came here to take the first step towards true justice and democracy," Ms. Terzian said. "I just couldn't stay home and do nothing."

Terzian who was born in the Unites States still has plenty of family living in Armenia, and she has been exchanging e-mails with her relatives, getting the latest rumors and information about the situation in Armenia. She added, "I am just trying to do everything that I can do from here to help promote peace."

Non-Armenian residents who live on Hobart Street were surprised that another demonstration was taking place on their block, the second time in one week. An African-American woman who lives in an apartment complex that is mainly inhabited by Armenians, said she didn't really understand what the protest was about. "There is a civil war happening in Armenia and these people are mad," the resident said. "But I hope this problem in Armenia becomes resolved because I can't have rallies happening on my street every week, I have to move my car and I can't get out."

Another couple who live in an apartment on the same street were trying to navigate themselves through the crowd of people, wanting to leave the area until the protest was done. Even though the couple said they didn't mind having the protests on their street, they just wished they knew more about the issue.

"I am used to the protests for the Genocide, but I'm not sure why every­one is out here today," said the young woman. "I think the police are killing people in Armenia; that is why these people are here; that's what some man told me."