Thousands More Join the March to Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles

Our man on the street in LA sent this photo moments ago – Photo by Rick Keshishi

Thousands of people are marching in Los Angeles to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.

Throngs have joined Friday’s six-mile walk from the Little Armenia neighborhood to the Turkish Consulate, carrying flags and signs.

The event comes after President Barack Obama once again stopped short of calling the 1915 killings a genocide.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I.

Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, and earlier this month recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after Pope Francis described the killings as genocide.

Thousands of peaceful marchers continue on – The should be at the Turkish Consulate by 6.

Michael D. Antonovich issued the following statement on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Today, we mark the 100th anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in human history. The centennial of a crime that Pope Francis called ‘the first genocide of the 20th century,’ in quoting the statement made by Pope John Paul II. Yet, the President of the United States refuses to refer to the mass killings of Armenians as genocide. It is ‘necessary, and indeed a duty’ to remember that this was a genocide and today, 23 nations have officially recognized it.

In Los Angeles County, home to the largest population of Armenians in the nation, we are ensuring that those who died are never forgotten by consistently remembering — and openly condemning — the atrocities committed against the Armenians.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, we will also have an official Board presentation to members of the Armenian community and clergy to proclaim the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors will consider a motion co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and me, to send a 5-signature letter to President Obama requesting him to reverse his decision and officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.

On Saturday at 5 p.m. in Grand Park, Mayor Antonovich will unveil a month-long interactive public art display which commemorates the centennial through public art.

Conceived by artists Ara Oshagan, Levon Parian and architect Vahagn Thomasian,
“iwitness” incorporates photography and architecture to educate and inform a new generation about the Genocide. The display consists of massive portraits of eyewitness survivors telling the story from the frontlines — people who were there — most of whom are Southern California residents who immigrated here to reestablish their lives.

For the next 30 days, school children and other visitors to this remarkable memorial will hear the personal stories of survivors — first-hand eyewitnesses to one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. For more information visit my website www.antonovich.com and click on the “iwitness” banner.

More from Featured