Lodi News-Sentinel, CA
April 16 2005

Group marches to mark Armenian genocide
By Jake Armstrong
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

More than 100 people today are expected to join a group of youths
walking through Galt to Sacramento as part of a 215-mile trek to
raise awareness of the Armenian genocide.

Walking by day and sleeping in churches by night, the group began its
journey April 2 in Fresno and will end Thursday at the state capitol.

Armenians have marched from Fresno and are going to the Capitol in
remembrance of Armenian Genocide 90 years ago. The group left Fresno
on April 2 and will reach the capitol Thursday. (Mike
Graffigna/News-Sentinel)There they will rally to thank legislators
for officially recognizing the Armenian genocide, the 90th
anniversary of which falls this year. A resolution commemorating the
genocide is due to be heard in the state Assembly next week.

Members of the group, many of whom are descendants of genocide
victims, hope their march will attract public attention to the
genocide, which resulted in the deaths of as many as 1.5 million
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, now Turkey, between 1915 and 1921.
Their ultimate goal: an acknowledgment of the genocide by the Turkish
government, which has steadfastly refused to recognize the event.

During the genocide, many Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were
forced to march through the Syrian desert, where they were left for
dead.

Marching through Acampo on Thursday, the 14th day of the march,
Fresno resident Shant Atikian said keeping the cause on his mind
helps him forget about the fatigue that sets in as the group marches
between 8 and 19 miles a day behind American and Armenian flags.

“Just thinking about how our great grandparents did this without any
sleep, food or water — if they did it, we can do it, too,” Atikian,
19, said.

Armenians mark the anniversary of the genocide on April 24th.

“Youths who are descendants of survivors aren’t going to let the 90th
(anniversary) pass by with just candles and a commemoration,” said
march organizer Serouj Aprahamian.

Marchers, from left, Berj Parseghin, Shant Kahvedjian, Shant Atikiav
and Chris Torossian relax at St. Christopher’s Church in Galt on
Friday after a 15-mile march. (Mike Graffigna/News-Sentinel)Marchers
number about 20 during weekdays, Aprahamian said, but that number
swelled to more than 100 last weekend.

Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, who will meet the group when
they arrive at the capitol steps, commended the marchers.

“It’s a tribute to our strong culture that the youth picks up the
torch from the previous generation and raises awareness,” he said in
a phone interview Friday.

A resolution commemorating the genocide will be heard on the Assembly
floor next week, Aghazarian said. Thirty-six states have recognized
the genocide.

Aghazarian said it “shocks the conscience” that the U.S. and Turkish
governments have not recognized the first genocide of the 20th
century, though Turkey has shown signs that many hope will lead to an
acknowledgment.

“The time has come for the Turkish government to acknowledge the
crimes of their forefathers 90 years ago,” he said. “The more
awareness we have, the more likely it won’t happen again.”