The Los Angeles Armenian American community is deeply troubled by an ongoing regional conflict between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijan. In a recent protest that caused the blockage of the southbound 101 in downtown Los Angeles, the community expressed its outrage over Azerbaijan’s resumption of military attacks on Nagorno Karabakh. This enclave, home to approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians, has witnessed thousands of residents fleeing their homes due to the escalating violence. Human Rights Watch reports that many are unable to escape as Azerbaijan has sealed the border, effectively trapping them in a dangerous situation.
Notably, several well-known figures within the entertainment community have raised their voices in support of the Armenian cause. Grammy Award-winning musician Serj Tankian, TV star Kim Kardashian, and iconic singer Cher have all utilized their star power to shed light on the humanitarian disaster occurring in this little-known region. By leveraging their platforms, these individuals are drawing attention to the vulnerable population’s dire circumstances.
Serj Tankian, in particular, has emerged as one of the most active and vocal advocates for the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Apart from his personal activism, Tankian has successfully rallied support from other influential musicians such as Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Tom Morello, and Stewart Copeland. Together, they signed an appeal urging for an end to the blockade obstructing the delivery of essential supplies like food and medicine to the enclave’s residents. This courageous display of solidarity has unsurprisingly sparked strong reactions from Azerbaijan, with their Press Council even threatening to revoke the BBC’s accreditation following an interview with Tankian.
Cher, too, has joined the Armenian cause and amplified their call for international attention. In collaboration with film producer Eric Esrailian, she penned a powerful article titled “You cannot Erase Us” published in Newsweek. In their piece, Cher and Esrailian condemn Azerbaijan’s “campaign of ethnic cleansing” and its relentless efforts to erase Armenian culture, which they aptly describe as “barbaric.” Cher’s dedication to the cause extends beyond writing, as she also posted a passionate plea on YouTube demanding sanctions and an end to the supply of weapons and American tax dollars to Azerbaijan.
Kim Kardashian, who visited the region in 2019 alongside her sister Kourtney, recently took to social media to shed light on the dire situation unfolding in Nagorno Karabakh. Through her posts, Kardashian highlighted the full-scale attacks on the civilian population following months of blockade and starvation. She warned of the potential for a genocide of Armenians in the region, passionately urging the U.S. for assistance in preventing another tragedy. Despite her widely shared Rolling Stone article about the conflict last month, political response and action have been disappointingly absent, leaving the local population of Nagorno Karabakh increasingly vulnerable to aggression from the Azerbaijani military.
The Los Angeles Armenian American community is deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in Nagorno Karabakh and the dire consequences faced by the ethnic Armenian population. With influential figures like Serj Tankian, Kim Kardashian, and Cher lending their voices and utilizing their platforms, it is vital that the international community heeds their calls for urgent assistance to prevent further devastation in this embattled enclave.