Web Designer Helps the World Remember
Website lists Genocide commemorative events
Glendale Independent
April 14, 2005 – April 20, 2005
By Nimfa Rueda, Glendale Independent Weekly Editor
Armen Vartanian’s 100-year old grandmother, Lucy was 10 years old when 1.5
million Armenians were said to have been killed by Ottoman Turks. Armen
Vartanian grew up hearing stories about the genocide, and also learned about
it in his history classes.
It greatly frustrates him that the Turkish government continues to refuse to
recognize the genocide, and also that it has not yet been fully recognized
here in the United States.
So three years ago, the 20-year-old web designer did what he does best:
create a website, where events commemorating the genocide all over the world
can be publicized.
“I feel that it is my duty to my community,” said Vartanian, who graduated
from Crescenta Valley High School. “People should not forget (the genocide)
and man’s inhumanity against man.”
The website , which started with a listing of Los
Angeles events, had a slow start in 2003.
“It took a while for people to know about the site,” he said. The following
year, the site started listing national and even international events.
This year, the 90th anniversary of the genocide, the response has increased
dramatically, Vartanian said. Now, the website is so comprehensive it even
includes video clips about the genocide from broadcast news sources.
Increased interest in the website, however, also meant attracting the bad
guys. Vartanian, who runs a web design business on Broadway, had to deal
with hackers.
“They tried to redirect the site to websites that say the genocide never
happened,” he said.
“They resort to hacking because they know they’re losing the battle. The
genocide will soon get its much-deserved recognition.”
Vartanian said they not only want recognition from Turkey and the United
States, but also “restitution” or the return of historical Armenian land and
property to the Armenian people.
To view the most current listing of Genocide commemorative events, visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress