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MARCHERS MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY
abc7.com
April 24 2013
by Jovana Lara
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two large demonstrations were held in Los Angeles
Wednesday to mark the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and to call on Turkey
to accept responsibility for it.
Protesting an event that happened 98 years ago, thousands of
Armenian-Americans took to the streets of Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire.
It was on April 24, 1915 in the final days of the Ottoman Empire that
the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians began.
"Absolutely innocent people were driven from their historic lands
towards south, and they went through hell," said Varsham Patvakanian,
who marched Wednesday.
Genocide survivors, as they call themselves, marched in unison
Wednesday to keep the memory of the tragedy alive. Many families
brought young children who chanted alongside their parents and
grandparents.
Among them was Azatouhie Varvarian, who says she's marched in this
parade for the last 33 years, and will continue to do so until Turkey
stops denying the Armenian Genocide took place.
"It's time that you recognize what you've done," said Varvarian. "It's
horrible, horrible: hatred towards another human because of their race,
religion or ethnicity."
Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian addressed the gathering,
calling for not only Turkey but every nation to acknowledge the
genocide.
"This continues to have resonance and importance to people because
of the continuing denial," said Krekorian.
Wednesday afternoon President Barack Obama released a statement:
"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915,
and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement
of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger
by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past,
thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future."
But protestors point out the president stopped short of the calling
the 1915 killings "genocide," instead referring to it as an "atrocity."
"We know that if they recognize it, they will lose a lot of grounds
for Turkey base and all that, of usage of their bases, of the usage
of their oils, and all that. I recognize that, but regardless, we
need to put wealth and greed aside for humanity, for the world,"
said Varvarian.
California Governor Jerry Brown issued a proclamation Wednesday
declaring April 24 a day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
Attempts to contact the Turkish Consulate for comment were not
successful.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9078511
From: A. Papazian
abc7.com
April 24 2013
by Jovana Lara
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two large demonstrations were held in Los Angeles
Wednesday to mark the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and to call on Turkey
to accept responsibility for it.
Protesting an event that happened 98 years ago, thousands of
Armenian-Americans took to the streets of Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire.
It was on April 24, 1915 in the final days of the Ottoman Empire that
the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians began.
"Absolutely innocent people were driven from their historic lands
towards south, and they went through hell," said Varsham Patvakanian,
who marched Wednesday.
Genocide survivors, as they call themselves, marched in unison
Wednesday to keep the memory of the tragedy alive. Many families
brought young children who chanted alongside their parents and
grandparents.
Among them was Azatouhie Varvarian, who says she's marched in this
parade for the last 33 years, and will continue to do so until Turkey
stops denying the Armenian Genocide took place.
"It's time that you recognize what you've done," said Varvarian. "It's
horrible, horrible: hatred towards another human because of their race,
religion or ethnicity."
Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian addressed the gathering,
calling for not only Turkey but every nation to acknowledge the
genocide.
"This continues to have resonance and importance to people because
of the continuing denial," said Krekorian.
Wednesday afternoon President Barack Obama released a statement:
"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915,
and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement
of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger
by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past,
thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future."
But protestors point out the president stopped short of the calling
the 1915 killings "genocide," instead referring to it as an "atrocity."
"We know that if they recognize it, they will lose a lot of grounds
for Turkey base and all that, of usage of their bases, of the usage
of their oils, and all that. I recognize that, but regardless, we
need to put wealth and greed aside for humanity, for the world,"
said Varvarian.
California Governor Jerry Brown issued a proclamation Wednesday
declaring April 24 a day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
Attempts to contact the Turkish Consulate for comment were not
successful.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9078511
From: A. Papazian