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The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Washington D.C. “Ani” Chapter, along with community members, on Saturday gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy to protest on the 37th anniversary of the Sumgait massacres and the pogroms in Baku, Kirovabad, and Maragha. Community members gathered demanding international action to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, along with the release of Armenian prisoners of war.

The protest began with a speech from AYF DC “Ani” executive member, U. Nareg Sakayan, who condemned Azerbaijan’s actions, declaring: “The Azerbaijani response to the Armenian Question, to the desire of Armenians yearning to breathe free, was to make sure they don’t breathe at all.”

AYF DC “Ani” member U. Matt Girardi then noted Artsakh’s enduring spirit, as he stated: “The people of Artsakh, strong and resolute, are not yet confined to the pages of history books. Families who found love and joy in Stepanakert still live. Babies born in a free Shushi still are diligent scholars and playful children. Veterans who fought for the right to live in peace and with self-determination still fill our churches and community centers. It is our obligation to stand in solidarity with them now and forever.”

Afterwards ANCA Policy Director Alex Galitsky emphasized the importance of resilience, stating: “Today, as we mourn the genocidal blockade and ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, the forced displacement of 120,000 of our compatriots, the torture of Armenian prisoners, the destruction of our heritage – we must remember that we in the diaspora do not have the luxury to despair. The only reason we have a nation today, the only reason we have the privilege of standing here as Armenians, is because of those who resisted.”

The protest then concluded with a prayer, honoring the lives lost and for the freedom of Armenian prisoners of war.