Boston, Mass.—The Armenian nation is far too familiar with the
struggle of maintaining our identity and the challenge to persevere
through the many inhumane cards life has dealt us. Due to the safe
haven Armenians found in the Syrian community following the events of
the Armenian Genocide, the small northwestern town of Kessab was once
densely populated by Armenians. However, we have yet again been
confronted with defending our homes as the population was forced to
evacuate. Forced to flee to nearby Latakia and Bassit, over 700
Christian families of Kessab have been displaced.
A scene from the protest in Boston (photo by Ken Martin)
On Friday, April 4th the Armenian community of the Greater Boston
area gathered at the entrance of the Tip O’Neill Federal Building in
downtown
A scene from the protest in Boston (photo by Ken Martin)
Boston to bring awareness to the current events taking place in
Kessab and to condemn Turkey’s role in the destruction. Organized by
the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter and the
Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts, over 100 human
rights activists gathered to protest the State Department’s failure to
condemn the perpetrators of the invasion and occupation. The
Massachusetts offices of the Department of State are located in the
O’Neill building, making it the ideal spot to stress the hypocrisy
evidenced by the Department’s silence regarding the role of its
NATO-ally Turkey. According to eyewitness accounts, the Al-Qaeda
affiliated extremists openly passed through a Turkish military base to
cross the Syrian border and attack the town and villages of Kessab.
The group marched holding signs stating the facts and chanted various slogans, “Obama, Open up your eyes!
Don’t support terror! Turkey run, Turkey hide, Turkey’s on Al
Qaeda’s side. State Department, can’t you see, Al Qaeda’s ally is
Turkey,” as officials and passers-by read through pamphlets, asked
questions, and made phone calls spreading the word. The Armenian Youth
Federation of the Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter and the Armenian
National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts seek justice once again and
stand in solidarity with our fellow diasporans who have recently been
forced out of their homes in Kessab.
A scene from the protest in Boston (photo by Ken Martin)
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