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Los Angeles Daily News
Events to mark Armenian genocide
Group aims to raise awareness of 20th-century atrocity
By Naush Boghossian
Staff Writer
Sunday, April 18, 2004
GLENDALE -- As Armenian-Americans get ready to commemorate the 89th
anniversary of the genocide that claimed the lives of family members,
events planned for the coming week go beyond mourning to urging
political action.
Armenians have long struggled to achieve recognition for the killings
of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915
and 1923, but the Turkish government to date has denied a genocide
took place.
During the events planned for the upcoming week, Armenian leaders and
activists aim to spur political action to bring about recognition for
what is widely considered the first large-scale genocide of the 20th
century.
"It is an election year, and a close election, and the events this
year are a call to mobilization, a call to political action, to tell
people to make sure their representatives know about this issue," said
Ardashes Kassakhian, director of government relations for the Armenian
National Committee of America Western Region. "It's a call to end the
cycle of genocide rather than simply reflecting on and mourning the
past. I think 2004 is the year we have to challenge the forces of
denial."
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a resolution in May
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, making it eligible for a floor vote
by the full House -- the farthest Armenians have come in their
struggle to get congressional recognition for the genocide.
A resolution on the genocide introduced in 2000 was pulled from the
House schedule before it was voted on.
The city events planned for the coming week are aimed at educating all
members of the Glendale community.
"By having these types of programs, what we're doing is not only
commemorating and sharing their pain, but we're also trying to attract
the non-Armenians to share with the Armenian population part of their
history and the atrocity they've gone through," said Zizette Ayad,
senior administrative analyst for the city. "The city's goal is to
create awareness of cultural differences." It is by learning about the
sufferings of all people that future atrocities can be avoided,
Kassakhian said.
"The whole point of April 24 is not just to mourn and to commemorate
the heavy loss of the Armenians, but to also understand that by living
in the United States, we are able to effect change in the world by
raising awareness and ending future genocides," said Kassakhian, who
also serves as a member of the organizing committee for the week's
events.
The program is scheduled to kick off with a panel discussion, "Man's
Inhumanity to Man," that will be aired throughout the week on the
city's Government Access Channel, GTV6.
The city is also holding a book drive in April, and donated books and
audio materials will be considered for the Glendale Central Library's
Genocide Collection. All donations can be dropped off throughout the
month at any Glendale Public Library branch or at the Glendale Civic
Auditorium on April 24.
The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be held from 10
a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 24 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401
N. Verdugo Road. The city will provide free shuttle service from the
Civic Center garage adjacent to City Hall on Wilson Street and
St. Mary's Church on Central Avenue to the Civic Auditorium from 5
p.m. to 10 p.m.
In addition to an art exhibit and a blood drive, there will be musical
presentations and performances during the formal program at 7 p.m. and
a candlelight vigil outside the Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. The vigil
will take place at the future site of a monument commemorating the
genocide.
Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 [email protected]
Events to mark Armenian genocide
Group aims to raise awareness of 20th-century atrocity
By Naush Boghossian
Staff Writer
Sunday, April 18, 2004
GLENDALE -- As Armenian-Americans get ready to commemorate the 89th
anniversary of the genocide that claimed the lives of family members,
events planned for the coming week go beyond mourning to urging
political action.
Armenians have long struggled to achieve recognition for the killings
of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915
and 1923, but the Turkish government to date has denied a genocide
took place.
During the events planned for the upcoming week, Armenian leaders and
activists aim to spur political action to bring about recognition for
what is widely considered the first large-scale genocide of the 20th
century.
"It is an election year, and a close election, and the events this
year are a call to mobilization, a call to political action, to tell
people to make sure their representatives know about this issue," said
Ardashes Kassakhian, director of government relations for the Armenian
National Committee of America Western Region. "It's a call to end the
cycle of genocide rather than simply reflecting on and mourning the
past. I think 2004 is the year we have to challenge the forces of
denial."
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a resolution in May
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, making it eligible for a floor vote
by the full House -- the farthest Armenians have come in their
struggle to get congressional recognition for the genocide.
A resolution on the genocide introduced in 2000 was pulled from the
House schedule before it was voted on.
The city events planned for the coming week are aimed at educating all
members of the Glendale community.
"By having these types of programs, what we're doing is not only
commemorating and sharing their pain, but we're also trying to attract
the non-Armenians to share with the Armenian population part of their
history and the atrocity they've gone through," said Zizette Ayad,
senior administrative analyst for the city. "The city's goal is to
create awareness of cultural differences." It is by learning about the
sufferings of all people that future atrocities can be avoided,
Kassakhian said.
"The whole point of April 24 is not just to mourn and to commemorate
the heavy loss of the Armenians, but to also understand that by living
in the United States, we are able to effect change in the world by
raising awareness and ending future genocides," said Kassakhian, who
also serves as a member of the organizing committee for the week's
events.
The program is scheduled to kick off with a panel discussion, "Man's
Inhumanity to Man," that will be aired throughout the week on the
city's Government Access Channel, GTV6.
The city is also holding a book drive in April, and donated books and
audio materials will be considered for the Glendale Central Library's
Genocide Collection. All donations can be dropped off throughout the
month at any Glendale Public Library branch or at the Glendale Civic
Auditorium on April 24.
The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be held from 10
a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 24 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401
N. Verdugo Road. The city will provide free shuttle service from the
Civic Center garage adjacent to City Hall on Wilson Street and
St. Mary's Church on Central Avenue to the Civic Auditorium from 5
p.m. to 10 p.m.
In addition to an art exhibit and a blood drive, there will be musical
presentations and performances during the formal program at 7 p.m. and
a candlelight vigil outside the Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. The vigil
will take place at the future site of a monument commemorating the
genocide.
Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 [email protected]