Photos: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
– Drivers headed into San Francisco over the Bay Bridge got a world history lesson without even asking Monday when a huge banner commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide was displayed above the mouth of the Treasure Island Tunnel.
For the third consecutive year, the 70-foot-by-10 foot banner was unfurled on the span about 9 a.m. to mark the anniversary of the genocide — a historical event that has yet to be recognized by many world leaders.
The “genocide is very personal to us. We are grandchildren and great-grandchildren of genocide survivors,” said Alex Bastian, a member of the Bay Area Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee. “It is something that has really wounded our soul, wounded our community, wounded our people.”
Nearly 30,000 Armenians in the Bay Area contributed money for the hanging of the sign that read, “Armenian Genocide 1915” and “.”
“We want to have recognition for everyone coming across the bridge to understand our story,” said Kim Bardakian, also a member of the Bay Area Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.