Washington, DC - Colorado's engagement with the Armenian Genocide dates back to the founding of Rocky Mountain High's Near East Rescue Committee during World War I. Influential community leaders, prompted by coverage of the Ottoman Empire's directed death marches and massacres of Christian Armenians, took action to help the survivors. Today, that same humanity, awareness, and dedication remains in place, and is growing. For the last decade Colorado's General Assembly and Governors have reaffirmed the Armenian Genocide as Armenians around the world commemorate the Meds Yeghern. As further evidence, and perhaps unique to Colorado is its consecrated 'khatchkar' designed by Western Slope architect Varouj Hairabedian and officially installed on Colorado's State House grounds. Colorado's extraordinary Armenian Genocide record has, more recently, found a federal presence. In 2005, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Western Region Director visited district offices across the state and assisted the community in introducing the Colorado Delegation to the overall significance of reaffirming the Armenian Genocide. Today, Colorado activists rely on the Rocky Mountain Hye Advocate (RMHA), founded by the Assembly's Armenian-American Action Committee Colorado (ARAMAC-CO) chair, Pamela Barsam Brown, for political news and updates. Ms. Barsam Brown was recruited as an Assembly activist by the late Jirair Hovnanian in 1996. Colorado has seven House Members in addition to its two Senators. This last April, RMHA solicited Commemoration statements from every delegation member. Both Senators and five House Members released testimonials to RMHA. Each statement was released as a Special Announcement RMHA e-newsletter and distributed to its statewide membership, Colorado human rights groups, state media, and the entire Colorado Delegation. Presently, Colorado boasts five co-sponsors on the Armenian Genocide resolution, H. Res. 304; five Armenian Caucus members; and one original co-sponsor of the Protection of Christian Heritage in Turkey resolution, H. Res. 306. In years past, Colorado has been one of only a few states to have their entire delegation cosponsor legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide. Last month, RMHA hosted a community "meet and greet" luncheon with Rosemary Rodriguez, State Director for Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). Barsam Brown explained; "Rosemary played a pivotal role with the Senator in communicating our anti-genocide advocacy message. We wanted to express our deep appreciation for her patience and dedication." The gathering included activist leaders from political, anti-genocide, human rights and environmental organizations; state elected officials; retired former educators now public school volunteers; a University of Colorado Boulder professor; local artists, writers, and musicians; a Boulder Community Hospital oncology psychologist; a Boulder YWCA Board member; a Boulder Chamber of Commerce member; a Colorado Chautauqua Association Board member; a Colorado Parole Board member; a Boulder Library Board member; and several independent small business owners. ARAMAC-CO activists will continue their outreach efforts with freshman Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO), the lone Colorado Member not aboard the Armenian Genocide resolution and not on the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. The district's previous Member was a two-term Armenian Genocide resolution co-sponsor. Last week, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) joined over 20 of his colleagues in speaking at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Independence of Armenia on Capitol Hill. Rep. Lamborn is a member of the Armenian Caucus and is an original cosponsor of H. Res.. 306. Ms. Barsam Brown commented on Colorado's advocacy success explaining, "Our work at the federal level is an outgrowth of the remarkable activism of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee and our state-wide ARAMAC activists. Our joint success is a testament to the power of grassroots advocates working together and achieving results in Washington." ARAMAC is the grassroots arm of the Armenian Assembly of America which supports grassroots activism and anti-defamation. Established in 1993, ARAMAC is the largest, independent, Armenian-American grassroots network. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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