Tim Willert
CITY HALL -- The City Council moved closer to recognizing the Armenian
Genocide and other crimes against humanity by endorsing a commemorative
event the week of April 24, and calling on the community to play an
active role in the planning.
The council, which deliberated for more than two hours Tuesday night,
urged staff to further develop the event and several other
recommendations made in August by a council-appointed Citizens' Memorial
Advisory Committee.
The council, though, made it clear that the community should
participate in the planning of annual commemorative and Unity Day
programs. It has started advertising for community members to be part of
a planning committee.
"The community should play a role, but the leadership should come from
the city because we're talking about the city recognizing not only the
Armenian Genocide but other atrocities," said Councilman Rafi Manoukian,
who will serve as chairman of the commemorative event.
The commemoration program would observe the Armenian Genocide on April
24, and recognize other ethnic groups on separate days during that week.
The city has offered to help facilitate the events and foot a small
portion of the bill.
"I think any city-sponsored event or official step by the city to
commemorate the Armenian Genocide will be an alternative to lowering the
American flag," said Artin Manoukian, chairman of the Glendale Chapter of
the Armenian National Committee and a member of the advisory committee.
Unity Day, a one-day event designed to teach people of different
backgrounds to appreciate each other, would be festive in nature and
include arts and crafts, food and music.
Also, instead of building an addition to the Glendale Central Library
to house the city's existing library collection of genocide materials,
the council endorsed consolidating those materials
"As a beginning, I think the council is on the right track," Artin
Manoukian said. "Basically, we all want to see harmony and we all want
people to come together."
