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ANGELENOS COMMEMORATE, SEEK RECOGNITION FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
89.3 KPCC
http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/04/24/32160/angelenos-commemorate-seek-recognition-armenian-ge/
April 24 2012
Hundreds of Angelenos gathered at the steps of Pasadena City Hall
on Tuesday to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Armenians
killed by forces loyal to the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.
The event was organized by the Armenian Community Coalition on the
massacre's 97-year anniversary.
While the event was focused on raising awareness and recognition of
the attacks within the Armenian community, lawmakers and speakers
also pushed for official recognition of the Armenian genocide from
the city and federal governments.
"If we continue not to recognize the genocide, officially, it not
only hurts us as Americans, I believe it hurts Turkey also," says
David Mgrublian, CEO of IDS Real Estate Group. "As long as the
Armenian-American community doesn't allow the American public to
forget, I think the likelihood of recognition is inevitable. It's
just a matter of time."
Mgrublian lost seven of eight grandparents in the killings.
Roy Boulghourjian of the Armenian Community Coalition says they are in
talks with the city of Pasadena to erect a monument in Memorial Park.
The slaughter of Armenians that began in 1915 is regarded by many to
be the first genocide of the 20th Century. But Turkey has historically
denied that the killings qualify as genocide, and President Obama has
been hesitant to use the term - even after a congressional committee
voted to.
"It's not in our culture to not act on the truth," said Khatchik
"Chris" Chahinian, chairman of the Armenian Community Coalition. "When
we have put it to the side, it's hurt our country."
The commemoration included a number of speakers, performers, school
groups and religious leaders. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard spoke, as did
representatives of Congress and the Consul of the Republic of Armenia.
89.3 KPCC
http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/04/24/32160/angelenos-commemorate-seek-recognition-armenian-ge/
April 24 2012
Hundreds of Angelenos gathered at the steps of Pasadena City Hall
on Tuesday to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Armenians
killed by forces loyal to the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.
The event was organized by the Armenian Community Coalition on the
massacre's 97-year anniversary.
While the event was focused on raising awareness and recognition of
the attacks within the Armenian community, lawmakers and speakers
also pushed for official recognition of the Armenian genocide from
the city and federal governments.
"If we continue not to recognize the genocide, officially, it not
only hurts us as Americans, I believe it hurts Turkey also," says
David Mgrublian, CEO of IDS Real Estate Group. "As long as the
Armenian-American community doesn't allow the American public to
forget, I think the likelihood of recognition is inevitable. It's
just a matter of time."
Mgrublian lost seven of eight grandparents in the killings.
Roy Boulghourjian of the Armenian Community Coalition says they are in
talks with the city of Pasadena to erect a monument in Memorial Park.
The slaughter of Armenians that began in 1915 is regarded by many to
be the first genocide of the 20th Century. But Turkey has historically
denied that the killings qualify as genocide, and President Obama has
been hesitant to use the term - even after a congressional committee
voted to.
"It's not in our culture to not act on the truth," said Khatchik
"Chris" Chahinian, chairman of the Armenian Community Coalition. "When
we have put it to the side, it's hurt our country."
The commemoration included a number of speakers, performers, school
groups and religious leaders. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard spoke, as did
representatives of Congress and the Consul of the Republic of Armenia.