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Our athletes getting ready to begin Leg 22 in Tipp City, OH

Leg 22 heading out during a brief break in the rain

The phenomenal LA2DC staff that ensured our athletes stayed hydrated, fed, and safe on the road!

Our team and athletes regroup between Legs 22 and 23 in Newark, OH

Leg 23 cyclists zipping at speeds of 45 miles per hour!

Our cyclists at the end of a grueling leg 23

Morning interview prior to the start of Leg 24 with WTOV/NBC News in Steubenville, Ohio! http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/featured/stories/wtov_la2dc-ride-bring-awareness-genocide-5462.shtml

Leg 24 cyclists, ready to roll!

Leg 24 Baton Pass: 109 miles and 12,334 feet of climbing – the most difficult elevation gain yet on the race!

The LA2DC team kicking of Leg 25 – the last leg before D.C.!

Leg 25 in action

The last leg! LA2DC getting ready to ride into Washington

Team LA2DC at the 3 mile mark

The LA2DC team in front of the Washington Monument

Interviews and celebration after the completion of leg 26 and the Race For Recognition

The LA2DC team with Anto Baghdassarian, the President of Armenia Fund

The LA2DC team in Washington D.C.

The LA2DC Committee in D.C.

The post #RaceForRecognition Days 12-14 in Review appeared first on Support LA2DC.

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Brothers Gary and George Koshkaryan after completing Leg 15 of our #RaceForRecognition!

Our Leg 16 cyclists, Hans Keifer, Gary Koshkaryan, Noel Gharibian and Alen Gharibian getting ready to begin the day!

The inspirational Hans Keifer, who has cycled every single day averaging almost 110 miles a day

LA2DC’s cyclists making quick work of Leg 17 through Missouri despite challenging terrain

Artin Shaverdian rides with the baton carrying the message of gratitude to Congress to be read by Congressman Adam Schiff on the house floor during the week of May 11.

Our Leg 18 cyclists, Hans Keifer, Mark Rademacher, Rafi Manoukian, Sasoon Petrosian, Artin Shaverdian and Edward Balasanian

The LA2DC team crossing the Mississippi River!

In Terre Haute, Indiana, FOX CBS News at 10 interviewed Krikor Gevorgyan, Vasken Melikian, Sedrak Gumrikyan, Edward Basalian, Khachik Gevergyan and Greg Aghamanoukian about ‪#‎LA2DC‘s mission to ‪#‎StopGenocide and ‪#‎RaceForRecognition.

A moment of levity from our LA2DC cyclists between legs

The LA2DC hits Ohio on Leg 21 of the Race – 3 more days left!

Bookmark www.la2dc.org/race for continuous updates and content as we continue our Race For Recognition and journey across the country!

The post #RaceForRecognition Days 8-11 in Review appeared first on Support LA2DC.

On April 4, 2010, PBS aired a documentary entitled, “Genocide: Worse Than War,” in which author Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, a renowned genocide scholar, pointed out that, “All told, in our time, there have been more than 100 million innocent victims of genocide. More than all the combat deaths in all the wars fought during that time everywhere in the world.” Only those who are doing the difficult work of genocide research, prevention, and relief generally know this startling fact. Ordinary citizens are well schooled about all the wars of the last 100 years, but know little about organized killing campaigns that aimed to wipe out entire ethnic and religious groups. This must change. And when it does change, perhaps it will help save 100 million lives in the next 100 years.

Genocide discussions in our country and around the world peak on two occasions; on April 24, when Armenians around the world commemorate the killing and deportation of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire (almost 75% of Ottoman Armenians), and when there are genocides in progress. Both instances, for the most part, follow a predicable script. In the first case, most governments who value the truth more than their strategic relationship with the Turkish government adopt or reaffirm a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a genocide, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. On the second occasion, for a brief minute, the world’s eyes are affixed at the horrors unfolding in real time – a sort of genocide reality TV – as hundreds of thousands of helpless men, women, and children are slaughtered. Then the news cycle is overtaken by a political scandal, or a natural disaster, or some other story because atrocity TV is not good for ratings. This too must change.

In the fall of 2014, several months before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, ordinary citizens and first time activists gathered in a non-descript office-building basement to discuss ways to increase awareness of genocides, and how the Armenian Genocide became the template for all the genocides that followed, including the Holocaust, the genocides in Cambodia, Korea, Africa, and those being perpetrated against Christian minorities today in the Middle East. The group – LA2DC – decided that a grueling athletic event involving marathons and cycling centurions, spanning the entire American continent, and carrying a message to Congress could start a different sort of conversation. One that would start a social media movement, and over time, would engage the next generation in this discussion, and in the process, educate them and inspire them to join the ranks of genocide prevention and relief workers.

Starting on April 24, 2015, LA2DC athletes of all backgrounds have been on a non-stop running and bicycling journey from Los Angeles to Washington DC, carrying a message in a relay baton to Congress, and stopping in small towns across the country to engage people in the discussion of genocide. Almost 300,000 people have been exposed to the cause and the trek on social media, encouraging the athletes to endure the pain as they spread the message that what happened to the Ottoman Armenians should not happen to any other group.

And what of the message that we are carrying in the baton? Another little known fact among Americans is that our sense of outrage against international injustice and crimes against humanity were awakened and shaped during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Americans organized the first massive international relief effort, raising the modern equivalent of $2.7 billion, to help the survivors of the genocide. Since then, America has been on the forefront of atrocity prevention and relief work, and the message we are carrying to Washington DC is a simple one. It’s a message of gratitude to all those organizations and Americans who put their treasure and lives at risk to raise awareness of genocides, the Holocaust, and other mass atrocities, and help the survivors. Our message opens by thanking the American people.

On May 7, 2015, LA2DC cyclers and marathoners will complete the last leg of the journey from Maryland to Washington DC, to deliver the baton containing our message of gratitude to Congress. During the week of May 11, Congressman Schiff, one of the leading voices of genocide recognition and prevention in Congress, will read the message on the House floor, and enter it into the Congressional Record for posterity. You can see the full text of the message here:
click to read

The post How to Save 100 Million Lives appeared first on Support LA2DC.

As many of you know, Artin Shaverdian is participating in a coast-to-coast bicycle and running relay marathon to raise awareness of modern day genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. This past weekend, Artin rode a leg from California into Arizona and through a portion of Nevada crossing the Colorado River (see attached), and he is looking forward to joining the caravan and his fellow riders in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday for the remainder of the ride into Washington DC. Some historical background regarding this issue follows:

The Ottoman Empire spanned over the Balkans in the Middle East from the fourteenth to the twentieth century. The Empire bordered Russia, Iraq, Syria, Greece, Bulgaria and the Mediterranean Sea. For over thousands of years, Armenians resided in Mesopotamia, governed by various empires such as the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs and Mongols. This community flourished with its unique language, literature, art and architecture. In 301 C.E., Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The Ottomans invaded the Armenian homeland during the eleventh century and took control over the region. Due to European industrialization and the weakening of the government, the empire experienced a decline in the nineteenth century. By the end of the century, several of its inhabitants, such as the Greeks, Serbians and Romanians gained independence; however the Arabs in the Middle East and the Armenians remained under Ottoman rule. Although Armenians could practice their faith, Armenian citizens were regularly persecuted. The Ottoman Sultan began to institute programs against the Armenians between 1894-1896 as the result of a continuous religious and ethnic divide between the Muslim Turks and the Christian Armenians and their push for social and political reform.

When World War I started, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers. As the world was engaged in war, the Ottoman Empire began a systematic campaign to eliminate the Armenians in the Empire. Ottoman authorities created widespread propaganda against Armenians under the belief that they were a threat to the national security. The propaganda was disseminated through sermons of town criers and Muslim mullahs who labeled Armenians infidels, traitors and spies. On April 24, 1915 Armenian intellectuals and leaders were arrested, tortured and killed. The Armenians serving in the military were forced into hard labor after the confiscation of their weapons. Meanwhile, Armenians’ property was also confiscated throughout the empire. Armenian men were arrested and killed in mass shootings as women, children, and the elderly were taken out of their homes and forced to desert. Thousands of Armenians died and those who survived were put into concentration camps. Despite the hundreds of eyewitnesses from several officials around the world, the killings continued until 1923 as the new Ottoman leader, Mustafa Kemal, expelled the rest of the Armenians, in addition the Greeks and Assyrians. An armed intervention never took place even though there was overwhelming knowledge and awareness of the atrocities.

Contemporary scholars estimate that over 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the genocide. In addition, tens of thousands were displaced and their land and property no longer belonged to them. The official stance of the Turkish government is that what took place was not a genocide and it actively denies that an intentional annihilation occurred. The Armenian genocide provided a precedent for future genocides. The Armenian genocide apparently influenced Adolf Hitler’s quest to eliminate the Jews. In a speech given prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939, Hitler stated: “I have issued the command — and I’ll have anybody who utters but one word of criticism executed by a firing squad — that our war aim does not consist in reaching certain lines, but in the physical destruction of the enemy. Accordingly, I have placed my death-head formation in readiness — for the present only in the East — with orders to them to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space (Lebensraum) which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

In the past 100 years, 100 million people have died in genocides including: the Holocaust, and atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, Korea and Wounded Knee. At this moment, genocides are underway or being threatened in several parts of the world.

On April 24, 2015, cyclists and runners set out from Los Angeles to kick off a coast-to-coast relay marathon, to raise awareness of modern day genocides and ask that all nations including the United States unite to prevent genocides by recognizing past genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. The LA2DC race has 26 legs in 11 states across the country, covering a total of approximately 2800 miles and ending in our nation’s capital. Every leg marks an atrocity location in the Ottoman Empire and elsewhere: Auschwitz, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, etc. As the athletes run/ride across the country, they are stopping and publicly thanking those people/churches/leaders/legislators who saved genocide victims and are doing the difficult work of genocide detection and prevention.

Visit www.la2dc.org to stay informed and follow the progress of the riders on Instagram and Facebook.

Alfred Smith
Chair of Nossaman’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee

About Nossaman LLP:
Nossaman is an innovative mid-sized law firm working on cutting-edge issues across seven U.S. offices. Our expertise is focused in distinct areas of law and policy, as well as in specific industries. With a strong foundation in California, we have built nationally recognized practices in infrastructure, litigation, healthcare, environment and real estate, public policy, and corporate law. The Firm has been an industry leader in California for seven decades. We know the land, the law, the courts, and the lawmakers. We also know the issues, from local bank failures and congested highways, to environmental conservation issues and scarce water supply. Nossaman is helping to solve many of the complex challenges public agencies and companies doing business in California face today. Additionally, we offer strong capabilities in Washington, DC, resulting from a strategic merger that expanded the Firm’s depth in several core areas including public policy, environmental permitting and litigation, and infrastructure. Nossaman attorneys in the capital monitor regulatory and legislative developments that affect clients’ economic and legal interests and present clients’ views on these issues to Members of Congress and Administration officials so that they are considered when decisions are made. We also specialize in administrative law proceedings before the agencies and the courts.

The post Creating Awareness – Nossaman LLP appeared first on Support LA2DC.

Kansas Wesleyan University hosted its annual Holocaust Remembrance and Genocide Awareness Week, April 20-24, 2015.
Dr. Russell, professor of History and chair of both the Department of History and the Division of Humanities, planned special events and exhibits for April 20-24, on the occasion of KWU’s ninth annual Holocaust Remembrance and Genocide Awareness Week.

With the dwindling number of aging survivors of the Holocaust who are willing to share their story, and in particular male survivors, this will be a very special opportunity for the greater Salina community and all of central Kansas. Polish-born Mr. Henry Greenbaum, now of Bethesda, MD, will share his experiences.

LA2DC is organized and supported by Americans of all backgrounds and faiths and Armenian-Americans who believe that it’s time to eliminate genocide as a war tactic. On the centennial of the first large-scale genocide of the 20th century, LA2DC demands recognition and prevention of such atrocities and calls on world leaders to stop future genocides.

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An evening meeting prior to an early AM race kick off:

Our Leg 8 athletes cycling through New Mexico:

Our Leg 9 Team heading out from Abiquiu, New Mexico:

Our Leg 10 team, ready to ride another 110 miles!

Our Leg 11 team, getting ready to kick off the leg from Branson, CO

And then, the Leg 11 team 20 miles from the finish line – they crossed through Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas on their journey!

The Leg 12 cyclists in Kansas:

Leg 12 riders completing the final miles:

Our Leg 13 team in action!

The inspirational LA2DC athletes at the end of Leg 13 that completed 770 miles of #RaceForRecognition … each!

Bookmark www.la2dc.org/race for continuous updates and content as we continue our Race For Recognition and journey across the country!

The post #RaceForRecognition Days 4-7 in Review appeared first on Support LA2DC.

As we started under spectacular blue skies in New Mexico, I couldn’t help but think of the Native American community and how much genocide has affected their families. Crossing into Oklahoma, we stopped in the small town of Keyes, population 300, where we were invited to use the facilities. Talking with the men gathered for coffee about our ride, one man blurted out, “I know about the Armenian genocide, I heard about it on NPR last week.”

Sometimes I forget that not everyone knows about atrocities, because taking part in LA2DC I have researched genocide in a way most don’t. Which is why riding with Sos, Vasken, Greg, Setrak and Krikor was the most eye opening experience. Each shared part of their story, where they are from, and why this ride is something they must do. Sos, Vasken and Setrak are riding the entire distance, 110 miles a day! They are incredible cyclists who insisted, “we started the day together, we ride together, we finish together.” So, I learned the art of grouping, proper form, hand signals, you name it. Armenians aren’t shy to show you the right way to do things!

Our ride ended in Kansas, where following a delicious meal prepared by our chef we got a chance to hear how everyone is impacted by this ride. We shared stories, our experiences, laughs, emotional moments and it is clear that our lives are forever changed because we chose to participate.

Behind the scenes, we are supported every step of the way with an incredible SAG team. And back home, our social media efforts are over the top! Check out the www.la2dc.org website, our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Amazing.

I was able to bounce in for a day from Denver because my step daughter, Elisse, agreed to come along and drive around helping out anyone in need during the day. What a joy to share with her how this community of people is working to spread genocide awareness.

At the end of the day, I have never been more proud to be part of a cause that is changing how we look at genocide.

The post My 110 Mile Experience appeared first on Support LA2DC.

As we travel across the country, LA2DC is honoring the accomplishments of individuals and organizations doing the difficult work of genocide and mass atrocity detection and prevention, and providing survivor relief. Among the first to mobilize Americans to rescue victims of the Armenian Genocide was the group Near East Relief, now known as Near East Foundation.

Missouri was a staunch supporter of Near East Relief.

In December 1920 alone, Missouri contributed $10,425.76 to NER through its Christmas Giving Campaign.

The boys of the Reformatory in Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri collected $43.92 from their own earnings and sent it to NER to buy food for the hungry children in Armenia. The Superintendent and officers of the institution were so touched by this act that they matched the boys’ gift and added another $62 of their own money to be sent to NER.

Arthur M. Hyde, Governor of Missouri, joined U.S. President Calvin Coolidge and issued a proclamation, appointing December 7, 1924, as Golden Rule Sunday. Observers were encouraged to substitute their hearty Sunday dinner with a modest orphan meal and donate the difference directly to help feed the starving orphans. Children were the most generous and genuine givers to NER, donating their allowances, and raising money. St. Louis school children gave $10,000 to NER. The Webster Groves High School in St. Louis County raised $612.05.

William H. Danforth, President of Purina Mills, St. Louis, was so impressed by the work NER did to train the orphan children in Near East for self-support that he took the responsibility of maintaining one such industrial center in Beirut.

Dr. R. T Uhls of Kansas City, Missouri, gave the gift of sight to over 3,000 Armenian orphans who were cured from the complications of trachoma in the city of Alexandropol, Armenia, otherwise known as “Orphan City” because of the staggering number of orphans housed there
The Near East Relief movement literally saved the Armenian nation from total annihilation.

LA2DC is organized and supported by Americans of all backgrounds and faiths and Armenian-Americans who believe that it’s time to eliminate genocide as a war tactic. On the centennial of the first large-scale genocide of the 20th century, LA2DC demands recognition and prevention of such atrocities and calls on world leaders to stop future genocides.

The post Thank You – Missouri Near East Relief appeared first on Support LA2DC.

International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world. Our global team includes hundreds of lawyers, investigators, social workers, community activists and other professionals at work in nearly 20 communities. Read more at: https://www.ijm.org/who-we-are

The post Spotlight Partner – International Justice Mission appeared first on Support LA2DC.

Partners Asia supports community initiatives to improve the lives of the most vulnerable among the people of Myanmar. Many of these people live in unstable areas within Myanmar and along its borders, where they are at risk of displacement and exploitation. At Partners Asia, we build relationships with innovative organizers in these communities and with international donors, bridging the gap between local leaders and global resources. Read more at partnersasia.org

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