Armenian students protest against US event with Turkish envoy in presence
PHOTO/VIDEO

REGION  30 September 2023 - 10:39

On September 29 in the morning, about 50 people gathered outside Annenberg Hall to protest the university's decision to hold an event with Turkish Ambassador to the United States Hasan Murat Mercan. Several officers from the Department of Public Safety were at the scene.

The protest began with an Armenian student leaving the classroom, raising the Armenian flag in the air, and demanding that the event be stopped, Caliber.Az reports, with reference to the University of Southern California student newspaper Daily Trojan.

The police took him outside, and he was soon joined by others, chanting “Shame on the university” and “1915 repeating itself,” referring to the “Armenian genocide” (quotes – ed.).

Dissatisfaction with USC's decision to host the event has been growing for days. On September 26, the Armenian Students Association of the University of California posted a statement on Instagram saying that Mercan is “known for directly supporting Türkiye’s policy of denying the Armenian genocide.”

“The politics of genocide has no place in foreign policy or on campus,” the post said.

Annenberg Hall is closed to the public during the protest. Students wishing to enter the building will require an escort.

Caliber.Az