LOS ANGELES (January 23, 2023) – The following statement is from CA-30 Congressional candidate Dr. Jirair Ratevosian, calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East:
“I am proud to be the first major candidate for Congress in the Los Angeles CA-30 race to call for a ceasefire. I’m also proud to have been endorsed by Peace Action and to receive the support of Democrats for Israel Los Angeles. I call on the Biden Administration to stop supporting an indiscriminate military campaign and seriously consider putting conditions on any future military aid related to this war. To be clear, I support continued targeted military operations to defeat Hamas, aligned with international humanitarian law to minimize civilian deaths. I also call for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages and for all parties to return to negotiating a diplomatic solution to bring enduring peace — and that starts with a two-state solution.
“Just like the ethnic cleansing that took place this past September in my homeland, Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), the international community should never stand for the killing of innocent people — just because of who they are — or just because they happen to be in the line of fire. Armenian and Jewish communities are bound together by a common legacy of being targeted for genocide. Armenians and Palestinians share the experience of being marginalized and displaced. When will ‘never again’ be a reality?
“I am running for Congress because we need to elect public officials that strive for a peaceful future for their country and for the world. I am never afraid to stand alone when it’s the right thing to do. I implore Laura Friedman, Nick Melvoin, Ben Savage, Mike Feuer, Sepi Shyne, and Anthony Portantino to join me in calling for a ceasefire.”
For press inquiries, please reach out to:
Mark Umbach, Lucky Break PR, [email protected]
Briana Velasco, Lucky Break PR, [email protected]
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ABOUT JIRAIR FOR CA
Born and raised in Hollywood, Dr. Jirair Ratevosian is a first-generation American born to Armenian immigrant parents. With a doctoral degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, Ratevosian has spent his career working on behalf of underserved communities championing issues that most impact these communities. As part of President Biden’s policy team recognizing the Armenian Genocide, as a legislative director to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and as a corporate social responsibility director at Gilead, Ratevosian has used his positions for the betterment of communities in need. He currently resides in Burbank with his husband, Micheal Ighodaro.
Ratevosian is running for Rep. Adam Schiff’s seat to be a champion for all communities within California’s District 30. California’s 30th is an open Congressional District in Los Angeles County that includes the cities of Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, West Hollywood, Sunland, Tujunga, and Hancock Park. Incumbent Adam Schiff is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. The district has the largest citizen voting-age population of Armenian-Americans in the country at 14%.
More information on Jirair’s campaign goals, which include issues of equal opportunity and public health, can be found on his campaign website and on Medium.
