By Alexi Chidbachian,
LOS ANGELES – Every year on April 24, hundreds of thousands of Armenian-Americans and supporters rally throughout Los Angeles and around the world to bring awareness and attention to the Armenian Genocide.
In 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, which is now modern Turkey. Since then Turkey has denied their actions of committing genocide, and it wasn’t until 2021 that President Joe Biden became the first US president to formally recognize the genocide.
His recognition came on the heals of an intense war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh.
The community says the purpose of the annual protests are to bring awareness and demand recognition. Even though the US government has recognized the genocide, this year the Armenian-American community is calling on Biden to “match his words with actions, and take tangible steps to hold Turkey and Azerbaijan accountable for their ongoing aggression against the Armenian people nearly two years on from the invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“We will still be marching in front of the Turkish Consulate; we are still calling on the Turkish government to accept responsibility for the genocide and pay reparations and deliver some justice to the Armenia people. There failure to do so and refusal to do so this far to accept that responsibility and their ongoing denial campaign in that regard is just further reason for us to continue our struggle and march each year and year round to voice these demands,” Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region, told FOX 11.
Sunday, April 24th marks the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Several events will be held throughout Los Angeles.
Below is a list of commemoration events.
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April 22 at 7PM
Armenian Genocide 107th Anniversary Commemoration
Ferrahian High School (Avedissian Hall) – 5300 White Oak Ave., Encino CA 91316
April 23 9 AM-3PM
Community Blood Drive
2495 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104
April 23 at 10:30 AM
Religious Ceremony & Placement of Flowers
Montebello Martyr’s Monument – 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello CA 90640
April 23 at 7PM
Armenian Genocide 107th Anniversary Commemoration
Montebello Marty’s Monument – 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello CA 90640
April 24 at 3PM
Protest: Resist Genocide Denial
Turkish Consulate of LA – 8500 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211
April 24 at 7 PM
Concert Dedicated to the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and 44-Day War in Artsakh
St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church – 500 S Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91204
April 24 at 7PM
City of Glendale’s Commemorative Event
Alex Theatre – 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale CA 91203
April 30 10:30AM-4:30PM
Community Blood Drive
1060 N. Allen Ave. Pasadena CA 91104