A protest was held today in front of the Turkey Consulate General’s office for the 109th Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
Protesters are calling for recognition, reparations and restitution by Turkey for the deaths of about 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, which modern-day Turkey will not recognize as a genocide.
Preny Alaverdian, a member of the Armenian Youth Federation says awareness is much needed as Armenians are still facing aggression.
Preny Alaverdian: This year particularly is very important to us because 109 years after the Armenian Genocide, we are still seeing traces of genocide in our homeland, as well as an odd Soph, which is a piece of historical Armenian land. And in 2023, we saw the traces of genocide when 120,000 Armenian natives were pushed out of their ancestral homeland.
Executive board member of the Armenian Youth Federation Kevork Madenlian adds that the goal of these annual protests doesn’t stop at commemorating the genocide.
Kevork Madenlian: Every year, we come out here and do this protest to not only commemorate the genocide, but also make it known that especially in recent history, there have been further aggressions on Armenia b y Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Fellow protester and the federation’s media contact Jibid Melkonian says the Turkish government needs to take more responsibility.
Jibid Melkonian: My ancestors were forcibly removed and killed out of their homes. I want my home back. It’s very clear, I need the Turkish Government to hold themselves accountable and take accountability and responsibility for their actions.”
Melkonian continued, saying that despite setbacks, they will continue to fight for the recognition of the Armenian genocide.
Melkonian: Today, the protest is mainly just to remind the Turkish consulate, their government and the Los Angeles community, that we are consistent and we are here every year no matter what, especially as in recent years, the Armenian nation has seen further loss. It does not mean that we waver and it does not mean that we bend, we are always here we can always fight on all fronts for our people and our genocide to be recognized.
The protest began at 12 PM, and schools were closed in the Los Angeles and Glendale unified school districts for the commemoration.
For Annenberg Media, I’m James Bao.