ANCA Western Region Advocates for Artsakh at Texas State Capitol

April 15, 2019

AUSTIN, TX – On April 5, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) hosted an Advocacy Day in Austin, Texas to promote the views and public policy priorities of the state’s Armenian American constituency, most of whom are concentrated in the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas.

“Our third advocacy day of 2019 highlighted the struggles of Artsakh to Lone Star State legislators, a testament to our determination to defend and advance the Armenian Cause on all fronts,” remarked ANCA-WR chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.  “Advocacy days are not only an effective way of sensitizing the elected officials on our community’s policy objectives, but also serve as a hands-on means to educate, motivate, and activate our own grassroots,” continued Hovsepian. “We are honored to have had the support of both local and national activists, especially the vibrant Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte.”

Throughout the day, the ANCA team, which included Turcotte, local activist Albert Davidian, and ANCA-WR Government Relations Coordinator Serob Abrahamian, led over a dozen meetings with elected officials and their staff to discuss the importance of Armenian Genocide education and the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh.

“I spent a day with my fellow Armenians speaking with Texas Lawmakers and their staff about the Armenian community here in Texas and the matters that are important to them,” remarked Turcotte, who is a Maine-based activist, attorney and Baku pogrom survivor. “The most important issue I felt needed to be discussed was Armenian American relations and the plight of the Armenian Republic of Artsakh,” continued Turcotte. “Overall, it was an intense day of about 15 meetings, and it was a success. I hope the community feels energized and inspired to speak to their lawmakers. Thank you to ANCA for facilitating such a fruitful opportunity and always spearheading initiatives to advance the Artsakh liberation movement.”

In 2017, Texas became the 46th state in the Union to recognize the Armenian Genocide through House Resolution 191. These renewed acts of activism followed the 2015 defeat of anti-Armenian resolutions as well as adoption of HR 1541, which recognized Texans’ contributions to the Near East Relief that saved 132,000 orphans of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.