Burbank Leader, CA
Jan 20 2007
Locals mourn editor
Hrant Dink, shot to death in Turkey, visited Glendale in November
and made many friends.
By Anthony Kim
GLENDALE – The local Armenian American population mourned the loss
Friday of Hrant Dink.
Dink, an outspoken Armenian journalist who faced constant threats and
intimidation in his home in Turkey, was shot dead on Friday outside
of his newspaper’s building.
Dink, 53, was the editor of the bilingual Armenian and Turkish
newspaper Agos, which was one of the most prominent voices for
Turkey’s small Armenian population, according to reports.
The journalist was convicted in October 2005 of inciting racial
tension and denouncing a Turkish historical figure in one of his
newspaper’s articles. He was given a six-month sentence and was
awaiting another trial scheduled for March.
In November, Dink visited Glendale, which has the largest population
of Armenians in the United States, as part of a country-wide speaking
tour. Senior Assistant City Atty. Lucy Varpetian accompanied Dink
around Glendale and helped coordinate his meetings while he was here.
"He was just an amazing person," Varpetian said. advertisement
"He knew what his fate was yet he didn’t shy away from it. He
believed in a higher cause and part of that was freedom of thought
and freedom of speech. He believed Turkey would get there…. He didn’t
like the attention he was receiving. But he thought the work he was
doing was important and if he had to get out of his comfort zone it
was important enough for him to do."
Dink spent some time in Abril Bookstore on Broadway, where he chatted
with customers at length about various topics, said Harout Yeretzian,
owner of the Armenian bookstore.
"He was a very nice guy," Yeretzian said.
"He knew that something like this would happen to him. He was talking
about his children and his wife, asking them to leave Turkey. And
they said, ‘No, we are going to stay with you no matter what
happens.’ He knew something was going to happen. He was a very brave
man, very brave."
Police Chief Randy Adams, Officer John Balian and Councilmen Ara
Najarian and Rafi Manoukian discussed crime and politics with the
journalist during in a meeting during his visit.
"He was proud of the diaspora forming outside of Armenia," Balian
said. "Coming to America, I think he was proud to see Armenians
holding various positions…. it’s not easy to come and learn new
culture, new language and new laws."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said top officials would
investigate the killing and that two unnamed suspects were arrested
for the crime, according to news reports.
A candle-light vigil was scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church in Burbank.
Members of the Armenian American community will also condemn the
murder of the journalist at the Los Angeles Consulate of the Republic
of Turkey in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. on Saturday.