{"id":63362,"date":"2024-03-14T14:07:04","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T21:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=63362"},"modified":"2024-03-14T14:07:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T21:07:04","slug":"truth-and-accountability-league-taal-launches-armenians-against-hate-campaign-with-la-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=63362","title":{"rendered":"Truth And Accountability League (TAAL) Launches ‘Armenians Against Hate’ Campaign with LA County"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAAL, LA County’s Commission on Human Relations, and LA vs Hate held a Virtual Press Conference on Thursday, March 14, to Announce the Launch of Public Service Announcements, Combating Anti-Armenian Hate Incidents and Crimes in Los Angeles County.<\/strong><\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES, CA<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0March 14, 2024<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The\u00a0Truth And Accountability League<\/a>\u00a0(TAAL), in partnership with the\u00a0LA County Commission on Human Relations<\/a>\u00a0(LACCHR) and\u00a0LA vs. Hate<\/a>, will hold a virtual press conference to launch their\u00a0\u2018<\/em>Armenians Against Hate<\/a>\u2019<\/em>\u00a0public service announcements (PSAs).<\/p>\n

The virtual press conference was held today at noon via Zoom. Speakers include\u00a0Vic Gerami<\/em>, TAAL Founder and Chair,\u00a0Robin Toma<\/em>, LACCHR Executive Director,\u00a0Marc Beaart,<\/em>\u00a0Director of Fraud & Corruption Prosecutions, Los Angeles County District Attorney\u2019s Office,\u00a0Zarik Hacopian<\/em>, featured in PSA NO. 1, and\u00a0Henrick Vartanian<\/em>, featured in PSA NO. 2.<\/p>\n

The PSAs, produced by TAAL, include interviews with victims of anti-Armenian hate acts who encourage the public to report such incidents and get help at LAvsHate.org or call 211.<\/p>\n

The most recent comprehensive\u00a0report of hate crimes<\/a>\u00a0in LA County showed that in 2022, hate crimes of all types rose to the 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0highest level ever recorded.\u00a0Hate crimes against Armenians rose 200% but were small in number, going from 2 in 2021 to 6 in 2022, reflecting that many anti-Armenian crimes and hate incidents are not reported.<\/p>\n

The objective of the PSAs is to create awareness about anti-Armenian racism, Armenophobia, and hate acts, educate the public, and empower them to respond and report such incidents proactively. They will air on network and public TV, publication and partner websites, and social media.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County, California\u2019s estimated 2024 population is 9,539,730, with a growth rate of -0.94% in the past year, according to the most recent United States census data. LA County is one of the most diverse regions and is also home to the second-largest Armenian diaspora in the world.<\/p>\n

This is TAAL\u2019s third collaboration with LACCHR and LA vs Hate. A Town Hall to address the\u00a0rise<\/a>\u00a0in anti-Armenian hate crimes in LA County, including the\u00a0anti-Armenian flyers<\/a>\u00a0posted in\u00a0Glendale in March and similar ones\u00a0<\/em>in\u00a0Beverly Hills<\/a>\u00a0a month earlier, calling for the massacre of Armenians, and general hate incidents against different groups was their first project.<\/p>\n

Leading\u00a0LA County<\/em>\u00a0elected officials, dignitaries, civic leaders, and community members gathered on Thursday, May 4, 2023, for the\u00a0Truth And Accountability League<\/a>\u00a0(TAAL) anti-racism\u00a0Town Hall\u00a0<\/a>at the\u00a0Glendale Central Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TAAL\u2019s second collaboration with the LACCHR saw the design of the \u2018Armenians Against Hate\u2019<\/em>\u00a0poster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have not witnessed this degree of anti-Armenian bigotry and Armenophobia ever in my life as we are seeing unfold in LA County and beyond. As the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches, we are reminded to be vigilant to the spread of prejudice and proactively combat it to keep our communities safe,\u2019 said\u00a0Vic Gerami<\/em>, TAAL founder. He added, \u2018The recent hysterical reaction from some parents and members of the community about the Los Angeles and Glendale School Districts\u2019 LGBTQ+ inclusionary curriculum has added another layer of prejudice for Armenians who happen to be queer.\u2019<\/p>\n

He continued, \u2018I\u2019m grateful for producing these PSAs with help from Robin Toma at the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, LA vs Hate, and his entire team. LA is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and hatred affects all of us. Our partnership is a testament that we are all in this together regardless of ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex. Bigots prey on everyone.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The Armenian American community is such an essential part of our LA County community, but the amount of discrimination and negative stereotyping they\u2019ve experienced is too often understated because it is underreported,\u2019 said\u00a0Robin Toma,<\/em>\u00a0Executive Director of the\u00a0LA County Commission on Human Relations<\/em>. When people report hate to\u00a0LAvsHate.org<\/a>\u00a0or 211, we can provide free multilingual, confidential help, and most importantly, that information will help us prevent hate from happening to others.\u2019 These sentiments were also shared by LA County District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n and LA County Supervisor for the Fifth District, Kathryn Barger.<\/p>\n

\u2018<\/em>In a time where the Armenian community in Los Angeles County is facing an unprecedented increase in hate crimes, it\u2019s more important than ever for us to come together and combat this wave of bigotry and Armenophobia,\u2019 said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n. \u2018My office is unwavering in its commitment to justice and equality, and we are using every tool at our disposal to charge and prosecute those who perpetrate these heinous acts. Our involvement in the \u2018Armenians Against Hate\u2019 initiative underscores our resolve to not only stop hate in its tracks, but to hold offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Hate has no sanctuary in LA County.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I am thrilled that TAAL and Los Angeles County are partnering to spread the important message that anti-Armenian hate acts will not be tolerated in our communities,\u2019 said Los Angeles County Supervisor\u00a0Kathryn Barger<\/em>, whose district includes the largest population of Armenians living outside of Armenia. \u2018This collaboration is one way our County is stepping up to protect the rights of Armenians and shows that we stand in solidarity with our Armenian community.\u2019<\/p>\n

Zarik Hacopian<\/a>, one of the victims of anti-Armenian hate incidents who is featured in one of TAAL\u2019s PSAs, said the following about her experience. \u2018I would say people need to speak up and stand up against this kind of hate. Because if we don\u2019t, the cycle will continue and will just worsen. So, speak up. If it ever happens to you, speak up.\u2019<\/p>\n

Henrick Vartanian<\/a>, another hate-crime victim featured in a PSA, said, \u2018You don\u2019t have to get into a fight or scuffle with a person, but you should report it. You should make that known because it\u2019s not acceptable.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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