Armenian genocide commemoration events scheduled citywide
Several events commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide will be held in Glendale over the next several days.
The genocide resulted in the murder of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1918.
The main local event of the week will be a city-sponsored Armenian genocide commemoration ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.
The 90-minute event will feature several traditional Armenian dance and musical performances by local students.
The keynote speaker will be Micheline Aharonian Marcom, who has published four novels, including a trilogy, about the Armenian genocide and its aftermath in the 20th century.
Free tickets, with a limit of four per person, are available online at www.alextheatre.org, at the concierge desk at the Americana at Brand or at Glendale Community College.
Other events will be held earlier in the week.
On Sunday, the Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale will hold its eighth annual blood drive in commemoration of the genocide from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Armenian Church, 500 S. Central Ave.
To make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
The 12th annual Armenian Genocide Assembly will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the auditorium at Glendale High School, 1440 E. Broadway.
Armenian clubs from high schools in Glendale Unified will participate in this free event, which will include instrumental pieces, poetry readings and video clips.
Unified Young Armenians will hold a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot at Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road.
Several officials from the cities of Glendale and Los Angeles are slated to speak.
The Armenian Cycling Assn. will hold its fourth annual Genocide Memorial Cycling Ride at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The route will begin at St. Mary’s Armenian Church, 500 W. Central Ave., and end at the Turkish Consulate, 6300 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday morning, Unified Young Armenians will hold a march through Little Armenia at 10 a.m.
For more information, visit youngarmenians.com.
An event called “Remembrance and Reflection will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ark Family Center Inc., 135 S. Jackson St., Suite 102.
A recording of a live performance by comedian Vardan Petrosyan, who takes his own perspective on the genocide, will be shown. It will be followed by a discussion of the psychological effects of the genocide on the current generation.
Seating is limited. Make a reservation at www.arkfamilycenter.org.
Events commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide are also scheduled in Burbank and Pasadena.
-- Mark Kellam, mark.kellam@latimes.com
Follow on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam.