The ATAA Vanguard Event of April 22-24, 2011 was a success for all Turkish and Turkic Americans to remember and to remind us of victims of Armenian terrorism and hate crimes (1974 to the present) and the Armenian Revolt (1885-1919).
From 6pm Friday to 6am Sunday, April 24, Turkish American students from Bahcesehir - Fulbright, George Mason, Marymount, George Washington, Georgetown, American and Strayer universities held a night watch vigil for worldwide victims of modern Armenian terrorism. Students lit candles for more than 70 killed and 700 injured. Students sang Anatolian folk songs and did the Turkic dances of the Caucuses. From 6am to 6pm Sunday, over 120 leaders and members of ATAA, ATADC, MATA, TACC, Young Turks NY, and Azeri American groups such as USAN, joined to stand in solidarity with over one million Muslim and Jewish victims of the Armenian Revolt. At the end of the day, Ambassador Namik Tan invited the Turkish American activists into the Embassy for cold drinks. ATAA President Gunay Evinch took the opportunity to thank Sergeant Michelle Hall and the US Secret Service for protecting freedom of speech and securing a peaceful event.
President Evinch addressed the Turkish American activists: "April 24, 2011 is a turning point for Turkish American activism. While six years ago there were 700 Dashnak Armenians on the Turkish Embassy side of Massachusetts Avenue and 30 Turkish Americans across the street in front of the Indian Embassy, today there were 120 Turkish Americans on the Turkish Embassy side and less than 80 Dashnaks on the other side. March 2010 was a turning point for Turkish Americans at the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) when Armenian Resolution H.Res .252 barely passed 23-22. December 2010 was a turning point for Turkish Americans at the House of Representatives when H.Res. 252 failed due to strong Turkish American grassroots and strong legislative opposition. We want peace, but peace must be based on the truth. The truth shall be known. Thank you for taking ownership of your heritage."
The Armenian Revolt at Van of March 1915 massacred more than 60,000 Muslims and Jews. Following more than 40 similar massacres, the revolt in Van was the straw that broke the camel's back, and resulted in the Ottoman security-based relocation of Armenian civilians from the eastern war zones. Until then, European powers commended the Ottoman administration for "exercising restraint" against "Armenian agitators." There was no genocidal intent in the relocation. Between 1885 and 1919, the Armenian Revolt saw the deaths of over 1.1 million Ottoman Muslims and Jews and the displacement of hundreds of thousands more in eastern Anatolia alone. Modern Armenian terrorism by the communist ASALA and fascist JCAG groups killed over 70 and injured over 700 and caused billions of dollars of property damage worldwide. Vanguard remembers.
Historyoftruth.com
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