November 6, 2000 – Members of System of a Down are proud to announce that some $20,000 was raised this past weekend when the rock group headlined a benefit concert in Los Angeles to raise awareness and provide funds for the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). ANCA is an organization that supports legislation in Congress to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century.

The concert, dubbed "Souls – A Benefit for Recognition of the Armenian Genocide to Stop Crimes Against Humanity," drew an over-capacity crowd of 1300 who each donated a $20 door charge; further donations were made by supporters that included American Recordings, Columbia Records, ARTISTdirect.com, Velvet Hammer Music & Management Group and StreetWise Concepts & Culture, Ecko/Physical Science, Paiste, Tama, Vans, DVS Shoe Company, Kik Wear, Vic Firth, Arnette, ux4 productions, and Fed 'Em All Wear.

The show opened with a short documentary that was both moving and disturbing, in which ABC News' Peter Jennings reported on the 1.5 million Armenians who were either brutally murdered or deported from their homeland by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. Throughout System of a Down's set – featuring ten brand-new songs that may be included on the band's upcoming album expected in Spring, 2001 – members of the band thanked the audience – which included Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose – for their support in this cause that is very personal to all four band members, who are all of Armenian decent and lost family members in the Armenian Holocaust.

House Resolution 596 – The Coalition for the Armenian Genocide Education and Commemoration Act – was to be put to a vote last month, and, according to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, "would have enjoyed support among the majority of the House." Unfortunately, mere moments before the vote was to occur, President Clinton contacted Hastert and requested that he pull the bill from vote citing "grave national security concerns" over the resolution, further stressing that even the measure's consideration would pose a threat to American lives.

Commented System of a Down's Serj Tankian, "Imagine telling the Jews that this is the wrong time to condemn Hitler for the Holocaust."