LOS ANGELES—The Armenian community organizations in charge of organizing the Southern California area Armenian Genocide commemorations, the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA), the Unified Young Armenians (UYA) and the Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC) announce their plans for alternative commemorative events given state and local orders prohibiting mass gatherings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In lieu of the traditional requiem service at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello, the march in Little Armenia and the protest demonstration in front of the Los Angeles Turkish Consulate, the committees have been working together to create an all day commemoration which will be aired on local Armenian television channels as well as several hours of live streaming on social media all to take place on April 24, 2020 beginning at 10 a.m.
The all-day commemoration will feature addresses by several prominent government officials, community leaders and the clergy, as well as informative panel discussions concerning Genocide recognition, reparations and restitution for the crime of Genocide. In addition, viewers will have the opportunity to see documentaries regarding the Genocide and hear from our community, well-known personalities and cultural presentations to honor the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.
The Armenian Genocide brought unspeakable horrors upon the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire, including mass starvation. At the time, Americans organized the largest relief effort in United States history, through the Committee for Near East Relief to come to the aid of the Armenians devastated by the impact of the Genocide. Armenians have never forgotten the benevolence and great generosity of the American people. 105 years later, now Americans are facing a food insecurity crisis due to unprecedented levels of unemployment brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.
To address this need, the UACLA/UYA/AGC have partnered with Feeding America, America’s largest food bank, to raise funds to provide 1,500,000 meals to America, in honor of our fallen martyrs and this great nation that came to our aid. Through this epic campaign, the entire Armenian community will be able to give thanks to America for its philanthropy at our greatest hour of need, and now, as Armenian-Americans we will do our part to help our communities and neighbors of all backgrounds and affiliations who face food shortages at this extraordinary time.
Take part in the 1.5 Million Feeding America Project.
Despite the tremendous challenges that all of humanity is facing at this time, the UACLA/UYA/AGC, drawing on the tremendous example of our ancestors who faced extreme adversity, adapted and was reborn stronger than ever, remains committed to the Armenian Cause and working together toward a just resolution for the Crime of Genocide, demanding from the government of Turkey the recognition of the Genocide, and rightful restitution and reparations. Our work continues. We stand united, and we will make our voices heard for the 1.5 million martyrs of the first genocide of the 20th century.
We hope that this global epidemic will end soon, and that all our communities will rise from it stronger than ever.
The coalition wishes you all the best. May you always remain healthy and safe.
Wonderful idea. If it’s not too late, please correct the spelling of “parish” to “perish.”
Thank you for your dedicated work.
Vahram Shemmassian
Good to see your name Professor Shemmassian. – Pateel Ayvazian former CSUN student.
I love it! What a great idea!
What a brilliant idea! Sometimes disease gives you a better idea than health, not that I would wish this pandemic on anyone.
Only one Armenian friend of mine considered this a good possibility, but for about 15 years now, I’ve wanted to create the biggest, global event for the Turkish Diaspora, on April 24. Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi used civil, non violent actions to change history. We can do the same. On that day, instead of going to the Turkish Embassy, and yelling and screaming, we will go to every Turkish business, line up on their sidewalks, and buy everything in sight. The Catholicos will do it too, which will be on Turkish TV, I’m sure. We will do this peacefully, politely, without any fights, and we will ship everything to Armenia and Artsakh. This way, on that day, millions of Turkish people will not be able to ignore us. They will face us, mano a mano, and they will be forced to remember April 24. In the worst case, they will also close their shops, restaurants, so they will also mark the day.
This has to be done with no fights, no cussing and cursing, which will be a great exercise in controlling the self indulging impulses in many Armenians. After all, when I attended Anush Opera, half the crowd was singing and talking along with the performance, royally ruining my enjoyment. In contrast, the Charles Aznavour concert I attended in Tokyo, had the audience politely yield their urges to let their existence be known, to Aznavour. They were quiet as church mice. This will be the most effective way to have all the Turks around the world remember us on that day. Marching at the embassies is not working.
In either case, I’m very happy that we, once again, are finding meaningful ways of making our loss contribute to something good.
This is a great idea, but why “America we thank you”? First off, “perished” is not a word in that large graphic. And yes, thank you America… for ending the decades long obfuscation of the Armenian Genocide and helping Turkey attempt to revise history. Thank you. Now, please stop funding and selling weapons to Israel that resell it to Azerbaijan, and support Artsakh’s independence which rightfully belongs to Armenians. Then, it will be thank you very much!
I know United States history that Near East Relief help a lot Armenian GENOSIDE on 1915-1918 and all Armenians living in United States are grateful.
Hey, so just a quick update about why I question thanking America since my last post above. There was barely any mention of this event in Los Angeles area news, since nothing in a positive light gets covered, but of course we heard nonstop about the Armenian kid who sadly lost his life in a car accident. Then there is the DOJ press release on April 24 about Armenian organized crime. What more do I need to say? I can give so many examples over the years. Wise up, yeghpairner.