FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2006

Ruzanna Avetisyan
pr@journeyforhumanity.com
(323) 464 0479
(800) 657 1707

JOURNEY FOR HUMANITY AND JOURNEY FOR LIFE SUCCESSFULLY END THEIR MARCH THROUGH COLORADO’S FRONT RANGE COMMUNITIES

Monday, August 28, 2006, brought an end to the Journey for Humanity’s (J4H) eight-day collaborative program with the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action (CCGAA), part of a 3,000 mile march from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. Both organizations are working to bring awareness to genocides of the past and present, in hopes to recognize those of the past, stop the present genocide in Darfur, and prevent any in the future. The week’s march began on August 21, in Denver, and continued through Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley. The J4H team was joined by Colorado’s 1996 Olympics torchbearer Essie Garrett, who walked on behalf of CCGAA’s Journey for Life. Throughout the march, they displayed an exhibit, The Dead Weight of Complacency, that chronicled a series of genocides, and which brought public attention onto this serious crime against humanity. In addition, the group met with Senators and Congresspeople to inform them about the urgent need to end the genocide in Darfur and to advocate for their support of genocide-related legislation.

In a meeting with Greeley Mayor, Tom Selders, the J4H team and the CCGAA spoke about the need to implement genocide education in school curricula and ways of raising awareness around this issue in the Greeley community. One of the marchers on Journey for Humanity, Hasmig Tatiossian, said that the group believed in the power of walking and that when people know, they will act. “People aren’t unsympathetic, they just don’t know,” she said. The Mayor expressed support for the cause and was well inclined to pass a proclamation about genocide.

During a meeting with the aids to Colorado Senator Wayne Allard and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, the group conveyed grave concern for the victims of the genocide in Darfur, as well as the politicization of the issue. At one instant, an aid asserted that the situation in Darfur, while important, is swept aside. Edward S. Majian, another J4H marcher, responded: “as we sit around and discuss these ‘while important, but swept aside’ issues, innocent people are dying, right now. We must remain mindful of what we’re talking about.”

The J4H team and the CCGAA believe that they have taken many steps forward over the past week, bringing this issue close to the public’s consciousness. “It’s crucial that elected officials feel their responsibility to act in this campaign. The success of our project can stretch as far as these individuals would like and they have the power to effect change… if they choose to. The public, however, also has a lot of power. If only everyone did their small part—contacted their officials, the media, school teachers—awareness and action would spread like wildfire,” expressed Vahe Abovian, a J4H marcher. While the CCGAA will continue its hard work in Colorado, the J4H team will continue its journey out of Colorado and to Nebraska, and is scheduled to arrive in Washington D.C. at the end of October.

For more information about J4H or CCGAA, please check their respective websites: www.journeyforhumanity.com and www.ccgaa.org.