Artists, community gear up for Silence the Lies, Rock the Truth! concert

This year’s Silence the Lies, Rock the Truth! performance, which commemorates the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, is scheduled in Los Angeles. This is the concert’s 6th year bringing artists, the community and human rights organizations together in solidarity to honor the past and make a statement to the world about the strength of the Armenian spirit, asbarez.com reported.

“We’ve been preparing for this special show and have a great lineup,” stated Viza band player Andrew Kzirian. “It’s been inspiring reaching out to our youth this year in an unprecedented way to encourage participation in what is a great cause. With all the recent headlines and trouble in Kessab and Syria overall, Armenians — and honestly people all over the world — are very concerned with what’s going on. And with this being the 99th year of denial really highlights how important recognition of the Armenian Genocide is today,” he remarked. “Prime Minister Erdogan has once again show the world that it’s better to sweep things under the rug rather than face the consequences of the past, hence the social media blackout and continued implosion to the truth,” added Viza singer Knoup Tomopoulos.

“April 24, 1915 marked the beginning of a plan to exterminate an entire race; a genocide that is denied to this day. Not only are we fighting for genocide recognition, but also for the continuation of our culture and heritage that we fought to preserve, stated AYF Commemoration Committee Chair Lori Tashdjian. “’Silence the Lies, Rock the Truth’ highlights our beautiful culture and resilience. Through programs such as the AYF Youth Corps, Armenian youth are given the opportunity to travel to our beautiful homeland, experience working with the children there, and take part in the activism that shows the futility of the Young Turks plan. We will persevere to reach our goals of recognition, restitution, and reparations,” she added.