LOS ANGELES, United States — Around 60,000 people joined a rally in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles, California on Sunday to seek justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks 101 years ago.
Southern California with its 20,000 Armenian population continues to be the inspirational source of political activism for diaspora Armenians.
Several Kurdish organizations among them Yezidis, and a broad coalition of Greeks, Assyrians, Jewish, South Asian, Sikhs, and labor organizations joined in solidarity with the Armenian American communities in commemorating the 101th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
An endless wave of protesters, young and old, with multicolored banners and mostly Armenian flags filled all the streets as the victims were remembered partly through somber traditional eulogies, prayers and partly through vibrant even jubilant diaspora Armenian national and fused music. Several local, state, and federal representatives spoke passionately about the Genocide.
Our partnership and participation had become possible through the untiring and enthusiastic work of Ms. Cklara Moradian, a human rights activists and a member of the Kurdish American Youth. All those who noticed the Kurdish presence cheered us on for our solidarity. A young Armenian woman even helped me by holding up a sign I was getting to tired to hold up with my worn out arms. In offering to help, she said, “let us keep up our hope.”
Placards mostly spoke of the need for punishment for the massacre and reparation for the victims as a form of justice. A Kurdish flag was erected on top of an unfinished building across the Turkish consulate whose few followers were holding a small rally in support of and on behalf of the Turkish government.
Overhead during most of the rally a commercial plane carried a Turkish flag, an acrimonious banner reading, “Do not listen to Armenian lies” The impassioned speakers spoke of the great injustice and the bitterness Armenians feel that despite a century of suffering there is a culture of denial in Turkey as successive governments remain non-repentant and defiant in the face of this great catastrophe that Armenians call “Medz Yeghern”.
Republican Congressman Adam Schiff addressed the crowd and said, “Today, we are all Armenian…we have one cause and that cause is justice.”
Although California among has recognized the Armenian Genocide, every one who spoke expressed dismay at President Obama for his repeated betrayal of his campaign promise in 2008 to call the genocide by its name. Most speakers noted that that is why such genocides continue to occur. Turkey’s ruling party AKP, like its predecessors continues to deny any responsibility or accountability for the crimes perpetrated against Armenians.
The president of the Armenian Youth Organization Joseph Kasakanian stressed in a passionate and penetrating speech that it is the quest for justice that is driving the Armenian youth to have organized and partaken in the global rally. He cited specifically how Kurds have been subjected to various forms of discrimination in Turkey and how the Turkish state has attempted to drown the liberal and progressive voices of political activists, historians, lawyers, intellectuals, and political leaders in and outside Turkey.
This rally indeed rekindled Kurdish Armenian connection. Kurds as victims of several genocides share a common history and in part historic homeland with Armenians, a friendship that during the Armenian Genocide helped save many Armenian lives from the Ottomans. Our message of solidarity with Armenians was that we would continue to support their struggle and cause for the global recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a result of which 1.5 million Armenians were massacred.
Dr. Amir Sharifi is President of the Kurdish American Education Society-Los Angeles
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