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Ferrahian
students participated in two major protests this week in
response to Armenian President Serge Sarkisian’s visit to the
Los Angeles-are Diaspora. The first, which took place in front
of the Beverly Hilton Hotel where Sarkisian held a meeting with
community leaders and later a dinner gala on Sunday, October 4,
2009, brought over 12,000 Armenians to the streets. The second,
at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Montebello on October 5,
was a more intimate and symbolic gathering involving mostly
young high school students, who were there to stop Sarkisian
from entering the memorial site.
On Sunday,
Ferrahian students joined over 12,000 Armenians in front of the
Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills to protest the protocols
which are to be signed by Armenia and Turkey on October 10,
2009. Sarkisian was in the hotel holding a meeting and a gala
dinner during the protest. Protesters shouted “traitor,” and
“shame,” in outrage over the protocols which threaten the
national security of the country and question the rights of a
3000 year old culture. Many were left with sore throats and
heavy arms, but feeling accomplished. Sarkisian made a brief
appearance atop the roof of the hotel, but only for a moment,
before returning within the walls of the hotel. From 2:00 pm
till 8:00 pm, students from Ferrahian were there consolidating
their love and passion for the homeland and its security, in a
great display of pride.
Four hours
into the protest, however, frustrated protesters broke the
police barricade placed across the street and rushed into
Wilshire Boulevard, stopping traffic, attempting to enter the
hotel through the lobby. The SWAT team quickly arrived on the
scene and moved protesters back away from the hotel entrance.
Students were excited, confused, and some even scared. Teachers
were quick to keep to students together and away from danger.
The protest
was a success, and showed the world the Diaspora’s strength and
unity in this time of crisis.
The
following day, the Ferrahian Senior class was startled with the
news that Sarkisian would be visiting the Montebello Genocide
Memorial that day. Students quickly gathered and organized, and
were on their way to Montebello in just one hour. Teachers
brought younger high school students throughout the day, who met
up with Ferrahian, Pilibos, and Mesrobian students, as well as
AYF and other community activists, who were determined not to
allow Sarkisian to visit the sacred site. The hundreds who had
gathered there formed a human blockade, tying themselves to each
other and to the memorial, ready to use their bodies to block
Sarkisian from nearing the memorial from all sides. The students
were there from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm, waiting, ready to
confront the President should he have arrived. Students were
given the choice to leave early, and while some left, many
stayed willingly to support a cause which is deeply important to
them.
The
President never showed up, however, and made his way to Beirut
Lebanon, where he was met with equal force of protest, anger,
and outrage over the protocols. However, the students’ effort
and dedication showed to him and to all others that they will
never give up.
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