Commemoration at the Armenia Marty’s Monument in Montebello

With collaborative efforts by the Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee and various Armenian organizations, the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide remembrance ceremony on April 24, featured notable elected officials, community leaders, advocates and the Armenian Archbishops along with the clergy.

Highlighting the event were speakers Congressman Adam Schiff, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon and Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krikorian and many others.

“Its important that we join together as a community and collaborate,” said Lena Manoukian, Board Member of the Armenian Council of America. “We have many important decision makers here in attendance and there presence is testament that justice will prevail and we are getting closer and closer to passage of Armenian Genocide legislation,” she added.

Majority Leader Charles Calderon, who spearheaded the movement to place the “Armenian Genocide Marty’s Monument” sign on Highway Route 60, discussed the importance of the Armenian Genocide recognition and assured those in attendance that the people in his district support the Armenian Cause.

“It’s a matter of unmistakable fact, it’s a question of principle, not a matter of debate,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when referring to the Armenian Genocide. He expressed his honor to be a part of the ceremony and acknowledged those in attendance.

Before Congressman Adam Schiff took the stage, master of ceremonies Osheen Keshishian read a letter written by the Congressman on April 22 addressed to President Obama urging him to “properly characterize the murder of 1.5 million men, women and children as ‘genocide’” in his April 24 address on the issue which Obama failed to do earlier in the day during his address.

Congressman Schiff stated that by refusing to use the proper term and recognize what happened 95 years as Genocide the United States looses moral ground when dealing with human rights issues along with Genocide in the world today.

“We will continue to fight; we will prevail for the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, because we have the strongest moral imperative to do so for the memory of the victims and for the survivors to see justice done in their name.”