GLENDALE, Calif.— The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) has announced that journalist and human rights activist Ayse Gunaysu will participte in the the ANC Grassroots presentation “Confronting Truth, Delivering Justice: Turkey and the Armenian Genocide,” which is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that will take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Studio City.

Ayse Gunaysu is a professional translator, human rights advocate, and feminist. Gunaysu is a founding member of the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination. Gunaysu was a columnist in a pro-Kurdish daily from 2005–07. Since 2008, she writes a bi-weekly column, titled “Letters from Istanbul,” for the Armenian Weekly.

Ayse Gunaysu, a member of the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (Istanbul branch) since 1995, will discuss human rights movements in Turkey and the treatment of Turkish proponents of Genocide recognition.

She joins Khatchig Mouradian, the editor of the Armenian Weekly, who will speak at ANC Grassroots about the confiscation of Christian church properties by the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey.

Mouradian’s presentation will cover the Ottoman era of Sultan Abdulhamid and the Young Turks through to the present-day Republic of Turkey. Drawing from a wealth of primary and secondary sources, including recently published scholarly works, Mouradian will present an overview of the process through which Armenian property, including church property, was confiscated from Armenians and transferred to the Ottoman and later Turkish state, and how the economic wealth stolen from the Armenians contributed to the creation of the Turkish national economy.

Through a multimedia and photographic presentation, Mouradian will present a detailed inventory of pre- and post-Genocide religious properties. Mouradian will then discuss the Turkish state’s current policy towards Armenians and Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Turkey. He will also explore the moral and material remedies available to begin addressing the damages inflicted upon the Armenian and other victims of Ottoman and later Republican Turkey’s genocidal campaign to eliminate the Christian populations within its borders.

The three-day ANC Grassroots program is a groundbreaking weekend of workshops and panel presentations that will educate the community about civic leadership arising from grassroots efforts. This powerful event encompassing Armenian economic, cultural and social issues with a number of dynamic speakers will provide activists with the tools to amplify the Hai Tahd message. ANC Grassroots will bookend the Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region (ANCA-WR) Annual Banquet, which will take place on Saturday, November 26 at 7 p.m.

The conference and Annual Banquet are open to interested individuals throughout the entire United States, and participants are encouraged to register early.

Due to a generous contribution by an anonymous donor the ANC has announced a significant reduction in ticket prices.

Tickets for ANC Grassroots, which includes the Friday night cocktail in the Starview Room; as well as conference sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which include breakfast, post-banquet dance, and the keynote luncheon on Sunday, are $49. Students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets for $39.

Tickets for the Annual Banquet are $200. Students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets for $150.

For more information, to register and purchase tickets, please visitwww.anca.org/ancgrassroots.

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region is the largest Armenian American grassroots community 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 ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of concern to the Armenian American community.