Fresno marks 105th anniversary of the Armenian genocide

Your Central Valley, Fresno, CA

April 27 2020

Local News

by: YourCentralValley.com Staff

Posted: Apr 27, 2020 / 08:35 AM PDT / Updated: Apr 27, 2020 / 08:35 AM PDT

FRESNO, California (KSEE) — Hundreds of people would typically gather for a ceremony near the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State.

During this year’s ceremony on Friday, it was just a small group for remembrance and offered respect to the 1.5 million Armenians who were targeted and killed by the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Our grandparents went through so much more and how did they survive. They went through years without knowing what the future would hold. So it gives us strength, it gives us a spirit to say we will pursue and keep going and everyone is going to come out of this.”

Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator of Armenian Studies at Fresno State

This is the first commemoration after Congress voted to recognize the genocide.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS