The protest of Turkish Non-governmental Organizations will start at 8:00 a.m. in 2525 Massachusetts Avenue. Issuing a statement for the protest demonstration that will be held by ATA-DC and ATAA, Demet Cabbar said,
"You know the date April 24 comes closer that Armenians consider as the start of so called Armenian genocide. Expectations of Armenians were high because there is a new elected government on the administration and because that new government gave pledges to them. But they are disappointed since President Obama did not use the word "genocide" in his visit to Turkey. Because of that the activities of Armenians for commemoration of so called Armenian genocide will be more densed and with more attendance.
Other than that, Armenian diaspora holds a protest demonstration every year on April 24 in front of Turkish Embassy. The program that they prepared ends in front of Turkish Embassy this year too. Since a few years, we, Turkish-American community hold a counter protest at the same place. We consider attendance of Turkish-Americans to the counter-protest of this year as very important. Millions of people died and more of them became refugees dueing World War One. We do not deny that Armenian, Turkish or Kurdish people, Muslim, Judaist or Christians suffered. We are the heirs of the people who could stand again and who re-established their lives starting from zero.
Our sensibility to the pain of people who had to live the same is inquestionable. But we are against advertisement of history falsely by one party and legitimation of that history in Parliament of United States by lobbyists and parliamentarians who do not know history. In this context, we, whole Turkish-American organizations around Washington had united and we are organizing a counter protest.
Our request is for you to attend the counter-protest demonstration in front of Turkish Embassy starting from early morning on 24 April at least for a couple of hours. Since years we cut corners and left this issue to professional lobbying organizations that works for our government. But the ones who can create a difference is our people. The reaction of the Civil Society Organizations and the people who vote or pay taxes. We learnt that we will not be able to yield achivements if we all do not give a hand. We need your support. We expect each of you on Friday."
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