Daphne Yaman: I arrived and there were already a couple protestors outside. That’s when I started feeling a bit nervous about attending.
The University of Southern California’s Turkish Graduate Students Association have put out a statement condemning the handling of the Turkish ambassador’s visit.
They believe their ‘sense of security and belonging at USC’ has been affected and it is now ‘daunting’ for them to embrace their Turkish culture on campus.
We reached out to a few Turkish students and only one who attended the event last week agreed to talk.
Daphne Yaman, a Journalism student, spoke about her experience at the event.
Although she is of Turkish descent, Daphne can understand why the Armenian students felt the need to protest:
Daphne Yaman: I was obviously, like, taken aback, especially when, you know, the protests started inside the conference room. I had gone with the intention of meeting other Turkish students and obviously that didn’t go very well. I left after about 20 minutes because it was just...way too much.
Daphne Yaman: As a Turkish person, I don’t have the right to say how they [Armenians] should have protested. Obviously, like, no one’s going to condone violence but I commend the Armenian students for protesting. Me, as a Turkish person and as a Turkish student at USC, like, I condemn USC for even inviting those diplomats here in the first place regardless of what’s happening in Azerbaijan with the Armenians.
For one of my journalism assignments this semester, we’re supposed to pick a community in LA and investigate them. I had chosen the Turkish community but after what happened last Friday I abandoned that idea.
In a statement to Annenberg TV News received later, the Armenian Student Association said none of their members participated in violent actions during the protest and they do not condone any non-peaceful rhetoric.