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THOUSANDS MARCH IN HOLLYWOOD ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PROTEST
Patch.com
April 24 2013
Thousands of protesters march along Hollywood streets Wednesday.
By City News Service
The streets of Hollywood became a sea of humanity Wednesday as
thousands of people marched to observe the 98th anniversary of the
start of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government
to take responsibility for the deaths of about 1.5 million people.
The Turkish government has questioned the number of deaths and denies
it was a genocide.
The march, organized by Unified Young Armenians, included thousands
of protesters, many carrying signs, flags and banners as they marched
along Hollywood streets.
Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in
the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S.
census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian
descent. The county Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation Tuesday
in remembrance of the Armenian genocide.
The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915
that about 300 Armenian leaders were rounded up and deported or killed,
and about 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who is of Armenian descent,
said the annual march is important to keep pressure on the Turkish
government.
"I think that the reason that people continue to come out in such
large numbers even after 98 years is because this is not a matter of
history, this is a matter of what's happening today," he told KCAL9
during a rally following the march. "Because this is a genocide,
an atrocity, that continues to be denied by the Turkish government,
and so until there's appropriate acknowledgement and justice we will
continue to march and continue to demand justice.
"... This is important not just to Armenian Americans. This is
important to everyone who cares about preventing atrocities and
preventing man's inhumanity to man," he said.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation calling the genocide "a
deliberate attempt by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate all traces of
a thriving, noble civilization."
"Armenian communities all over the world commemorate this tragedy on
April 24," according to the proclamation. "On this day, we honor the
victims and survivors of the genocide, and reaffirm our commitment to
preventing future atrocities from being committed against any people."
President Barack Obama, who said as a candidate that he would recognize
the genocide but has yet to do so, issued a statement in remembrance
of the people killed and again called for a "full, frank and just
acknowledgement of the facts."
"Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful
elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just
and tolerant future," Obama said.
http://hollywood.patch.com/articles/thousands-march-in-hollywood-armenian-genocide-protest
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Patch.com
April 24 2013
Thousands of protesters march along Hollywood streets Wednesday.
By City News Service
The streets of Hollywood became a sea of humanity Wednesday as
thousands of people marched to observe the 98th anniversary of the
start of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government
to take responsibility for the deaths of about 1.5 million people.
The Turkish government has questioned the number of deaths and denies
it was a genocide.
The march, organized by Unified Young Armenians, included thousands
of protesters, many carrying signs, flags and banners as they marched
along Hollywood streets.
Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in
the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S.
census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian
descent. The county Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation Tuesday
in remembrance of the Armenian genocide.
The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915
that about 300 Armenian leaders were rounded up and deported or killed,
and about 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who is of Armenian descent,
said the annual march is important to keep pressure on the Turkish
government.
"I think that the reason that people continue to come out in such
large numbers even after 98 years is because this is not a matter of
history, this is a matter of what's happening today," he told KCAL9
during a rally following the march. "Because this is a genocide,
an atrocity, that continues to be denied by the Turkish government,
and so until there's appropriate acknowledgement and justice we will
continue to march and continue to demand justice.
"... This is important not just to Armenian Americans. This is
important to everyone who cares about preventing atrocities and
preventing man's inhumanity to man," he said.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation calling the genocide "a
deliberate attempt by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate all traces of
a thriving, noble civilization."
"Armenian communities all over the world commemorate this tragedy on
April 24," according to the proclamation. "On this day, we honor the
victims and survivors of the genocide, and reaffirm our commitment to
preventing future atrocities from being committed against any people."
President Barack Obama, who said as a candidate that he would recognize
the genocide but has yet to do so, issued a statement in remembrance
of the people killed and again called for a "full, frank and just
acknowledgement of the facts."
"Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful
elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just
and tolerant future," Obama said.
http://hollywood.patch.com/articles/thousands-march-in-hollywood-armenian-genocide-protest
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress