 | |
| Formation | 1918(as ACIA) 1941(as ANCA) |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Advocacy |
| Headquarters | 1711 N Street NW,Washington, D.C. |
Official language | English, Armenian |
Executive director | Aram Hamparian |
Chairman | Raffi Hamparian |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA)[1] |
TheArmenian National Committee of America (ANCA) (Armenian:Ամերիկայի Հայ դատի յանձնախումբ) is anArmenian Americangrassroots organization. Its headquarters is inWashington, D.C., and it has regional offices inGlendale, California, andWatertown, Massachusetts.
The ANCA was founded as ACIA in 1918 and was then founded as the ANCA in 1941. The ANCA is an outgrowth of the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA) which was founded afterWorld War I byVahan Cardashian, the former Consul of theOttoman Empire inWashington. Many prominent American and Allied leaders includingJames W. Gerard, theU.S. Ambassador to Germany, SenatorHenry Cabot Lodge,Charles Evans Hughes (later appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court),Elihu Root and others participated to this organization. The goal of ACIA was the independentWilsonian Armenia. The ACIA had a Central Office inNew York City and 23 regional offices in 13 states.
Later, these offices gradually evolved into the Armenian National Committee of America, which expanded its activities to include public relations efforts to acquaint local communities about Armenian issues including theArmenian genocide and Armenian National aspirations. Other activities included April 24 commemoration activities, public forums, voter registration efforts, support for local and state political candidates, and updating the local community on Armenian issues.
The ANCA is active in different areas of political and educational activities, including:
Beyond the national headquarters of the ANCA located inWashington, there are two regional offices inNew York City andLos Angeles, and more than fifty local chapters and thousands of activists,[2] it is cooperating with a large web of regional Armenian National Committees (orArmenian Cause/Hay Tad Offices) inArmenia,Russia,France, theMiddle East,Canada,South America, andAustralia.
Since the early 1990s, the ANCA has defendedSection 907 of theFreedom Support Act, restricting aid to the government ofAzerbaijan.
The ANCA was among the major organizations backingUS House Resolution 106 which called for the United States to recognize theArmenian genocide committed by theOttoman Empire duringWorld War I.
In 2014, ANCA-WR celebrated theCalifornia Senate's recognition of theRepublic of Artsakh, with then-Executive DirectorElen Asatryan stating "This resolution couldn't have come at a better time, given the recentescalated level of violence along the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border, and as our freedom fighters continue to defend their right to live under a government of their own choosing."[3]
In 2017, the ANCA, in collaboration with theArmenian Assembly of America, theArmenian General Benevolent Union, theChildren of Armenia Fund, and theDiocese andPrelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, launched the "The Promise to Educate" campaign to send copies of directorTerry George's 2016 filmThe Promise and relevant Armenian genocide curriculum resources topublic educational institutions across the United States.[4]
On 25 May 2017, the ANCA issued a statement againstDonald Trump's budget, which would cut 69.6% of the aid to Armenia. The ANCA stated: "We are troubled by Trump's ill-advised and misguided proposal to cut aid to Armenia."[5]
Following the2022 Los Angeles City Council scandal, ANCA-WR's official response stated:
As victims of genocide, and targets of systemic racism and persecution for generations based on our ethnic and religious identity (includingan ongoing Armenophobia campaign sponsored by Azerbaijan), the Armenian-American community is all too familiar with the unspeakable damage caused by continued animosity against any ethnic or racial group. Los Angeles is home to a rich and diverse population of communities from across the globe who came to Los Angeles seeking safety, opportunities, and a place of belonging in a city which strives to include all people. Such comments have no place in our city, and as Angelenos, we stand alongside all communities in their ongoing fight against hate, and we must relentlessly oppose any holder of public office who fails to join this fight with their words and actions.
For the2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, ANCA-WR endorsedKaren Bass for mayor. In response, Bass stated "The Armenian community deserves a Mayor who will prioritize issues that are often overlooked. For the past few decades, I have worked to hold Azerbaijan accountable and support the people of Artsakh. I have fought to combat anti-Armenian hate, and ensured that I have Armenian representation in senior staff roles in my elected offices. The work that ANCA-Western Region does is incredibly important in fighting for the best interests of the Armenian community and as Mayor, I vow to continue to help in that fight."[7] Following Bass' victory, Nora Hovsepian, the chair of the ANCA-WR board of directors, was named to serve on the transition team.[8]
ANCA has a policy of generating increased U.S. support for the security and prosperity of the independentRepublic of Artsakh, through initiatives challengingAzerbaijan’s aggression, strengtheningU.S.-Artsakh ties, appropriating direct U.S. aid, and supporting theOSCE Minsk Group’s efforts to resolve the Artsakh-Azerbaijan status and security issues.[9]
ANCA works to improve the strategicU.S.–Armenia partnership in terms of expanding trade; increasing aid; further developing mutually-beneficial political, economic, security, military, and peacekeeping cooperation; and elevating the frequency of bilateral visits at both head of state and government levels.[10]
At a 2010GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society conference, entitled "Breaking Through: Legally, Politically, Culturally," ANCA participated in a panel discussion focused on political issues important to the Armenian and LGBT communities, ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian stated:
The Armenian American community is a broad and diverse entity and one where all voices should be welcomed and heard. The political activism needed to advance justice with respect to theArmenian Genocide andArtsakh is needed from all segments of our community. That means we need the involvement of everyone in our community; young and old, rich and poor, those with a college degree and those with none, those who are gay and those who are straight, or those who were born in America or those who came to this country as immigrants. The rainbow of diversity in our community is a strength, not a weakness. We need to seize our diversity to advance our common cause for justice. This I believe.
The Chairman of ANCA is Raffi Hamparian. The staff is composed of Executive DirectorAram Hamparian, Communications Director Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, Government Affairs Director Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq., and Chief Financial Officer Christopher Hekimian.
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