100 pomegranate trees to be planted in LA to commemorate Genocide

September 10, 2015 - 12:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Los Angeles City Council approved Tuesday, September 8, funding for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Tree Project, spearheaded by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and with the aim of planting 100 pomegranate trees across city parks and in each of the 15 council districts to mark the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Asbarez reports.

The first pomegranate tree was planted earlier this year at City Hall on April 23 during LA’s commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Los Angeles has unquestionably taken the lead in showing solidarity and standing on the side of justice and recognition for the Armenian people,” said Councilmember Krekorian. “This project will serve as a living genocide memorial and symbol of the Armenian people’s history as we commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.”

“Anyone who comes to City Hall or travels throughout our city will see the pomegranate trees, which will continue to flourish as the Armenian community has. It will stand as a sign of hope, rebirth, and survival,” added Kerkorian.

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.