5,000 MARCH TO MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Daily Breeze, CA
Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA
April 24 2008
About 5,000 people marched today in Hollywood to observe the 93rd
anniversary of what they call the Armenian genocide.
Protesters want the Turkish government to admit responsibility for
the slaughter of about 1.5 million people.
Turkey questions the number of deaths and denies it was a genocide.
Accompanied by police officers who blocked streets, the peaceful march,
organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, traversed Sunset Boulevard,
Western Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue.
The march is to end about 1 p.m., said Los Angeles police Officer
April Harding of the Media Relations office.
At 1:30 p.m. in Montebello, an Armenian Genocide Commemoration
ceremony will be held at Bucknell Park, at which Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa is to deliver remarks.
About 4 p.m., a rally sponsored by the Armenian Youth Federation
is planned for the Turkish Consulate in the 6300 block of Wilshire
Boulevard, Harding said.
Protesters are expected to call on the Turkish government to take
responsibility for the deaths.
More Armenians live in the Hollywood and Glendale areas than in
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.