Thousands March in Hollywood Armenian Genocide Protest

The streets of Hollywood became a sea of humanity Wednesday as thousands of people marched to observe the 98th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government to take responsibility for the deaths of about 1.5 million people.

The Turkish government has questioned the number of deaths and denies it was a genocide.

The march, organized by Unified Young Armenians, included thousands of protesters, many carrying signs, flags and banners as they marched along Hollywood streets.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S. census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian descent. The county Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation Tuesday in remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915 that about 300 Armenian leaders were rounded up and deported or killed, and about 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who is of Armenian descent, said the annual march is important to keep pressure on the Turkish government.

"I think that the reason that people continue to come out in such large numbers even after 98 years is because this is not a matter of history, this is a matter of what's happening today," he told KCAL9 during a rally following the march. "Because this is a genocide, an atrocity, that continues to be denied by the Turkish government, and so until there's appropriate acknowledgement and justice we will continue to march and continue to demand justice.

"... This is important not just to Armenian Americans. This is important to everyone who cares about preventing atrocities and preventing man's inhumanity to man," he said.

Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation calling the genocide "a deliberate attempt by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate all traces of a thriving, noble civilization."

"Armenian communities all over the world commemorate this tragedy on April 24," according to the proclamation. "On this day, we honor the victims and survivors of the genocide, and reaffirm our commitment to preventing future atrocities from being committed against any people."

President Barack Obama, who said as a candidate that he would recognize the genocide but has yet to do so, issued a statement in remembrance of the people killed and again called for a "full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts."

"Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future," Obama said.

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