The event was organized by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and the Unified Young Armenians. Leaders from the organizations met following the announcement of the protocols and joined together in opposing them.
On Sunday, thousands of people came from all over California as well as neighboring states. Thirty-seven buses brought people from across the Los Angeles area, while many others were forced to park blocks away. They streamed onto Grandview Avenue, which was blocked off from traffic with a police blockade.
Those in attendance expressed anger about the protocols, which would which they said were not fair to Armenia.
“Don’t give in to Turkey,” they chanted in Armenian. “Stand up and fight until the end.”
Arek Santikian, chairman of the Armenian Youth Federation’s western region, said the event’s organizers expected more than 10,000 people to attend what he emphasized was a rally for people to voice their opinions that Armenia should not agree to the protocols.
“It’s all of the Armenian community rallying together,” he said.
The most controversial facet of the protocols is the proposed formation of a historical commission to question the validity of the Armenian Genocide.
“That would make what has become a political issue into a historical issue,” Santikian said.
Glendale High School senior Salpi Topjian and Hoover High School senior Annabelle Mehrabian said they came out to the event because the Armenian Genocide is something that must not be forgotten.
Still, they said they were shocked by the number of people in attendance.
“They really want to show their support for Armenia,” Mehrabian said.
