Genocide centennial to be marked with candlelight vigil in Burbank

March 28, 2015 - 10:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian community of Burbank, California, U.S., will commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Genocide on Tuesday, April 7, when the Burbank City Council will present its annual Proclamation in Recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

At 5:30 pm, a remembrance program will be held at the Burbank City Hall, during which the City Council will present its Proclamation. The program will be followed by a candlelit walk from Burbank City Hall to the Burbank Youth Center, where a commemoration program will take place at 7 pm.

The Candlelight Vigil is the Burbank community’s annual commemoration event for the Armenian Genocide. It is organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, Burbank “Varak” Chapter; the Armenian National Committee of America, Burbank; the Burbank Homenetmen “Sipan” Chapter; the Armenian Relief Society, Burbank “Araz” Chapter; and the John Burroughs High School Armenian Language Club.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.