MARCHERS PROTEST GENOCIDE SEMANTICS
Ofelya Martirosyan
Daily Sundial
enocide-semantics-1.1737968
California State Univ. in Northridge
April 29 2009
Bracelets with the Web site were on display
during a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 94th anniversary of
the genocide held last Thursday.
Nearly 10,000 people dressed in black holding flags, banners and signs
marched in Little Armenia Friday morning in Hollywood in protest of
Turkey’s failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Protestors also
decried President Barack Obama’s failure to use the word "genocide."
Obama issued a statement about the genocide saying his views have
not changed, but refrained from using the word genocide. Instead he
twice referred to "Meds Yeghern," which are words used by Armenians
in reference to the events of 1915.
This year marks the 94th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th
century when under the guise of WWI, the Young Turks of the Ottoman
Empire systematically killed 1.5 million Armenians. To this day,
Turkey refuses to acknowledge the genocide.
Protester Aghasi Kirakosian, 75, said, "They massacred Armenians
and Turkey denies it without shame. Whoever doesn’t recognize it is
equally guilty."
Obama’s statement read: "Ninety four years ago, one of the great
atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember
the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched
to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds
Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the
hearts of the Armenian people."
Harut Sassounian, a publisher and human rights advocate, said the
president broke his campaign promise of properly recognizing the
Armenian genocide. "It’s a clever ploy on his part just like many
presidents before him who used euphemisms and word gymnastics."
Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council president, spoke at the
protest organized by Unified Young Armenians. Garcetti urged the
president to use the word genocide.
"There is no debate. There is no ambiguity. There is only the horrors
of a genocide. Call it what it is. Say the right word and call it a
genocide," said Garcetti.
Sassounian said a simple acknowledgement or an apology on Turkey’s
part would not do.
"In 1915 an attempt was made to destroy an entire nation in its
ancestral homeland, depriving the survivors of their cultural
heritage as well as their homes, lands, houses of worship and personal
property," he said. "A gross injustice was perpetrated against the
Armenians, which entitles them to demand compensation."
Protests continued later in the day in front of the Turkish Consulate
and a commemoration was held in Montebello attended by Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa, Congressman Adam Schiff and state senator Carol Liu (D).
"Turkey’s guilty of genocide," shouted the thousands of protestors,
"recognize the genocide, recognize history."