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HUNDREDS OF ARMENIANS PROTEST GENOCIDE AT TURKISH CONSULATE
Los Angeles Times, CA
April 24 2013
By Alene Tchekmedyian
April 24, 2013, 6:23 p.m.
Hundreds of Armenians chanted outside the Turkish Consulate in
Los Angeles on Wednesday to commemorate the massacre of about 1.5
million of their ancestors 98 years ago - a genocide that has yet to
be officially recognized by the U.S.
Chanting "We will fight, we will fight, until the end!" in Armenian,
the large crowd decried decades of denial by modern-day Turkey that
a genocide occurred during the time of the Ottoman Empire.
Among them was Glendale resident Armen Aroutiounian, 19, who called it
"pathetic" that the United States and Turkish governments refuse to
recognize the genocide.
"Armenian people need closure," he said, adding that he takes part
in the annual protests almost every year. "More voices means more
opinions, and more opinions means more leniency toward recognition."
Dozens of "Hye Riders" motorcycle club members roared their engines
on Wilshire Boulevard, while cyclists with the Armenian Cycling
Assn. - clad in red, blue and orange cycling suits - sat nearby on
their bicycles.
"We just want our youth to remember and understand it's part of our
history," cyclist Edmond Aslanian said.
Also on Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) - who for years
has unsuccessfully introduced legislation in the House that would
officially recognize the massacre as genocide - addressed his
colleagues on the floor in Armenian.
His remarks came on the same day President Obama once again did not
use the word "genocide" in his annual statement about the tragic event.
The demonstration in Los Angeles was organized by the Armenian Youth
Federation. Calls to the Turkish Consulate were not returned.
Frustration over the U.S.' resistance to recognizing the genocide -
and angering a key NATO ally in the Middle East - was prevalent at
a number of commemoration events in the region Wednesday, including
Glendale and Pasadena.
For some, the history and ongoing struggle of the Armenian community
has made them stronger, Aroutiounian said.
"Through bloodshed of innocents is when society grows a lot stronger,"
he said.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hundreds-of-armenians-protest-genocide-at-turkish-consulate-20130424,0,5972995.story
Los Angeles Times, CA
April 24 2013
By Alene Tchekmedyian
April 24, 2013, 6:23 p.m.
Hundreds of Armenians chanted outside the Turkish Consulate in
Los Angeles on Wednesday to commemorate the massacre of about 1.5
million of their ancestors 98 years ago - a genocide that has yet to
be officially recognized by the U.S.
Chanting "We will fight, we will fight, until the end!" in Armenian,
the large crowd decried decades of denial by modern-day Turkey that
a genocide occurred during the time of the Ottoman Empire.
Among them was Glendale resident Armen Aroutiounian, 19, who called it
"pathetic" that the United States and Turkish governments refuse to
recognize the genocide.
"Armenian people need closure," he said, adding that he takes part
in the annual protests almost every year. "More voices means more
opinions, and more opinions means more leniency toward recognition."
Dozens of "Hye Riders" motorcycle club members roared their engines
on Wilshire Boulevard, while cyclists with the Armenian Cycling
Assn. - clad in red, blue and orange cycling suits - sat nearby on
their bicycles.
"We just want our youth to remember and understand it's part of our
history," cyclist Edmond Aslanian said.
Also on Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) - who for years
has unsuccessfully introduced legislation in the House that would
officially recognize the massacre as genocide - addressed his
colleagues on the floor in Armenian.
His remarks came on the same day President Obama once again did not
use the word "genocide" in his annual statement about the tragic event.
The demonstration in Los Angeles was organized by the Armenian Youth
Federation. Calls to the Turkish Consulate were not returned.
Frustration over the U.S.' resistance to recognizing the genocide -
and angering a key NATO ally in the Middle East - was prevalent at
a number of commemoration events in the region Wednesday, including
Glendale and Pasadena.
For some, the history and ongoing struggle of the Armenian community
has made them stronger, Aroutiounian said.
"Through bloodshed of innocents is when society grows a lot stronger,"
he said.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hundreds-of-armenians-protest-genocide-at-turkish-consulate-20130424,0,5972995.story