GLENDALE — On Thursday, August 17, the Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale held a press conference at the Americana at Brand to update the media and the community at large on its next steps in addressing the issue surrounding Caruso Affiliated’s prior decision to reject advertisement space for the upcoming Armenian Genocide documentary, “Architects of Denial.”
Initially, the press conference was planned to announce an official boycott of the Americana at Brand and Caruso Affiliated based on its utter lack of sensitivity toward the Armenian-American community, its decision to reject billboard space calling it “too political,” claiming that the advertisement would violate their “guideline principle,” which is to “ensure that everyone in the community feels welcome” and Mr. Caruso’s unwillingness to immediately meet with ANCA Glendale to rectify the situation.
But as the organization was setting up the microphones on the green public park in the heart of the Americana at Brand, Caruso Affiliated, submitted a response letter to the organization condemning “violence and atrocities of any form anywhere in the world, including the Armenian Genocide that has impacted the lives of Armenians in our community.” The letter also stated that Caruso Affiliated will work with the producers of “Architects of Denial” and the City of Glendale in an effort to display the advertisement at the Americana at Brand, at no cost to the producers.
The press conference was kicked off with opening remarks by former ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan who thanked the media and the community members, and announced the long list of elected officials and community leaders who were in attendance, standing in solidarity with the organization.
ANCA Glendale Chair, Artin Manoukian then took to the podium to provide the organization’s statement. “Let us be abundantly clear, the Americana serves at the pleasure of the City of Glendale and its citizens, not the other way around…the Americana was basing its decisions on Turkish government interests that oppose the values of tolerance, respect for all cultures and in this case the facts of history. Exposing genocide is never something that should be silenced.”
Manoukian concluded his remarks with “We appreciate these initial positive steps the Americana and Caruso Affiliated are taking. However, this is not how a company like Caruso Affiliated should be demonstrating its corporate citizenship. Caruso Affiliated must seek a relationship with the community that demonstrates, in concrete terms, its understanding and care for the surrounding community and our city. In the coming weeks, we look forward to meeting with Mr. Rick Caruso and his management team to discuss, in concrete terms, how we can forge a better relationship and bond between the community and the Americana and Caruso Affiliated that results in a genuine, constructive and meaningful long-term relationship.”
