City, local groups plan memorial events

Karen S. Kim

GLENDALE -- Local residents interested in commemorating the 86th

anniversary of the Armenian Genocide won’t have as far to drive this

year, as Glendale for the first time joins dozens of other local

organizations in offering remembrance events next week.

Organized by a committee of community members and city staff,

Glendale’s “Week of Remembrance” will kick off Sunday night with a panel

discussion at the Glendale Central Library.

“This is the first for the city of Glendale, and I’m hopeful the whole

community will be out and this will be the beginning of them coming

together to recognize the differences of the various segments in the

community, as well as being educated about the different tragedies that

have affected mankind,” said Mayor Rafi Manoukian, who was chairman of

the committee.

Local Armenian groups will also host candlelight vigils, marches,

services and ceremonies throughout the week to memorialize the

anniversary of the genocide.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed after being exiled by

the Ottoman Turks in 1915. The Turkish government denies allegations of a

genocide, while the U.S. does not officially recognize it.

The following is a roundup of several local events commemorating the

Armenian Genocide.

* A panel discussion on “Man’s Inhumanity to Man,” organized by the

city of Glendale, will be offered from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Glendale

Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St.

* A genocide exhibit including photos and explanations of the Armenian

Genocide and Holocaust will be on display from Sunday to the end of May

at the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St.

* The Armenian Youth Federation will host a “March for Humanity” at 5

p.m. Sunday. The 3-mile walk begins at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian

School, 1615 Alexandria Ave. in Hollywood, and ends with a candlelight

vigil and closing ceremony in front of the Turkish Consulate, 4801

Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.

* A special Armenian Genocide commemoration service, which includes a

sermon by Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian, will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 500 S. Central Ave.

* United Armenian Students will host a march at 11 a.m. Wednesday beginning at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hobart Street in

Hollywood. Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti will speak after the

1.5-mile march.

* A ceremony to honor Armenian Genocide victims will be held from 1 to

3 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Armenian Genocide Monument at Bicknell

Park, 850 Via San Clemente, Montebello.

* The Armenian Youth Federation will organize a protest from 4 to 6:30

p.m. Wednesday in front of the Turkish Consulate, 4801 Wilshire Blvd. in

Los Angeles.

* Glendale will host a commemoration event from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. The event will include a

video program, music, art exhibit and speeches from Levon Marashlian,

professor of history at Glendale Community College and Valery Mkrdaimian,

counsel general of Armenia. The civic auditorium is at 1401 N. Verdugo

Road.

* A closing ceremony for Glendale’s Week of Remembrance will be held

from 6 to 8 p.m. at Perkins Plaza behind City Hall, 613 E. Broadway. The

ceremony will include speeches from Holocaust survivors and Glendale

political activist Wanda Dorn, a performance by the Character and Ethics

Project and a candlelight vigil.