Armenian Genocide

Lawmakers representing Burbank and Glendale turned their focus to Armenia last week, holding meetings with representatives of the Armenian-American community and hosting events recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which took place from 1915 to 1923. April 24 is the 96th anniversary of the beginning of the atrocity that left more than 1.5 million Armenians dead at the hands of Ottoman Turks. On Thursday, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) led the Assembly’s annual commemoration of the genocide.

A member of the Canadian parliament and a filmmaker whose latest feature focuses on a musician searching for a family heirloom lost during the Armenian Genocide are just two highlights of the upcoming Week of Remembrance. Each year, Glendale commemorates the Armenian Genocide of 1915 with a week of events in April. About 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire over the course of several years through massacres and death marches, which modern day Turkey has refused to acknowledge as genocide.

Descendants of Armenian genocide victims may sue insurance companies for unpaid claims, a federal appeals court ruled Friday in a rare reversal of an earlier decision. The same three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said in August 2009 that lawsuits were barred by a federal government policy against legal reference to the Armenian genocide, despite laws in California and 41 other states officially recognizing the massacre of 1.2 million Armenians that began in 1915 amid the chaotic collapse of the Ottoman empire.

Despite threats by Turkey and vocal opposition at home, French lawmakers approved a bill Thursday making it illegal to publicly deny that the Armenian genocide occurred. In retaliation, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recalled his country's ambassador and said bilateral visits would be suspended and joint military operations with France canceled, Agence France-Presse news service reported. Earlier Thursday, thousands of people waving Turkish flags protested the impending vote outside the National Assembly in Paris.

Local lawmakers are leading an effort to again have California recognize the Armenian Genocide and to push the federal government to do the same. Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced a joint Assembly and Senate resolution Tuesday designating April 24, 2011, as California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide. The state has declared April 24 a special date for several years, Portantino spokeswoman Wendy Gordon said. A new resolution must be approved by the Legislature each year.

Survivors of Armenian genocide victims can't sue German insurance companies for failing to pay claims on their ancestors because only the federal government has the power to bring foreign entities to U.S. courts, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. The 11-0 ruling by the full court dismissing the lawsuit filed nearly a decade ago probably puts an end to efforts by the genocide victims' descendants to compel German companies to pay off on policies sold to the victims from 1875 to 1923.

Thousands marched through Hollywood on Tuesday in observance of the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government to recognize the  deaths of about 1.5 million people. The march was organized by the Unified Young Armenians. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Lamont Garrett said about 4,500 demonstrators participated, with many carrying Armenian flags and banners as they marched down Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. At the end of the route, near Hobart and Sunset boulevards, speakers made remarks to the crowd before they moved on toward the Turkish consulate for another demonstration.

The Armenian government is teaming up with Stevie Wonder and a roster of international performers to bring a higher profile to genocide recognition efforts. On Tuesday night, Armenian dignitaries and music promoters in Glendale unveiled plans for a five-year series of concerts, dubbed “Never Again,” to keep the Armenian genocide and other human rights atrocities in the public eye. The series is scheduled to culminate with performances in 2015, the 100-year anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, who is challenging Mike Gatto for the 43rd Assembly District seat in November, ramped up his campaign at a recent anti-genocide rally by appealing to the Armenian American vote with a fiery speech that has since been posted online. In his address to the crowd, Krikorian spoke in terms that appeared to limit his appeal to Armenian voters - a strategy used many times by candidates before him with limited success - by saying it was time to elect someone who “speaks for us” and that “one of our own represents our community.” In his speech outside Glendale Community College, which was posted on YouTube , Krikorian also pledges “to be the voice of American Armenians and to be the voice of Glendale - to be in touch with you.” Krikorian said he tailored his comments - which at times became excited and touched on the international geo-political trials of Armenia - for his audience at the candlelight vigil commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915.

A U.S. district judge on Monday denied a motion to conduct an audit of a multimillion-dollar compensation fund for descendents of Armenian Genocide victims, instead ordering the account administrator to explain payout discrepancies. Glendale-based attorney Vartkes Yeghiayan had sought the independent audit after discovering that a fund established by insurance carrier Axa S.A. contained nearly $2.5 million more than originally thought. But U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder said the audit would cost too much time and money and was unnecessary if Glendale resident Parsegh Kartalian, the fund's administrator, could provide adequate information.

Fewer Armenian Americans are speaking the language of their native country, eroding the ability of the diaspora to preserve its culture, according to an expert at UCLA who addressed a conference organized at the Central Library on Saturday. Since 1970, the use of the Armenian language has decreased dramatically in all areas of diasporan life, including weddings, baptisms, schools and newspapers, said Hagop Gulludjian, a lecturer of Armenian studies at UCLA. Language is key to the survival of ethnic identity, particularly because the Armenian diaspora appears to be permanent, he added.

The entrance of 60 Armenian Relief Society honorees clad in tricolor ribbons into the Glendale Hilton Hotel's Grand Ballroom inspired a standing ovation by the more than 500 guests attending the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA's Gala 2012 on April 27. Honorees were selected by their respective chapters in the society's Western USA region to be recognized for their excellence in service in categories including longtime member, financially supportive...

Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, who is challenging Mike Gatto for the 43rd Assembly District seat in November, ramped up his campaign at a recent anti-genocide rally by appealing to the Armenian American vote with a fiery speech that has since been posted online. In his address to the crowd, Krikorian spoke in terms that appeared to limit his appeal to Armenian voters - a strategy used many times by candidates before him with limited success - by saying it was time to elect someone who “speaks for us” and that “one of our own represents our community.” In his speech outside Glendale Community College, which was posted on YouTube , Krikorian also pledges “to be the voice of American Armenians and to be the voice of Glendale - to be in touch with you.” Krikorian said he tailored his comments - which at times became excited and touched on the international geo-political trials of Armenia - for his audience at the candlelight vigil commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915.

It's a problem when the only news source that tells it like it is, with no holding back, is "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. " Watching the show is like a ritual of exposing the hypocrisy with the political leadership of our country. Republicans will claim that all the news on "The Daily Show" is pro-Democrat. But all you have to do is view Jon Stewart on a daily basis to see that he doesn't discriminate when it comes to exposing hypocrisy. Maybe that's why so many have come to be fans of the show.

The L.A. County Democratic Party recently passed a resolution to ask the California Democratic Party to endorse efforts to educate its members about the Armenian Genocide and reject efforts to deny the crime. The resolution was authored by the Southern California Armenian Democrats, which has many local members. It received widespread support on its way to the county party's executive committee. The vote came on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks.

A new film school in Glendale has pledged to issue more than $17,000 worth of scholarships at the city's Man's Inhumanity to Man event on Thursday. The International Academy of Film and Television will award scholarships for summer classes to 15 people who enter a drawing at the event Thursday, according to an announcement released today. Now in its 11th year, Man's Inhumanity to Man focuses on various acts of crimes against humanity throughout the world's history, part of a series of city-sponsored events that center on the April 24 commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

Thousands marched through Hollywood on Tuesday in observance of the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government to recognize the  deaths of about 1.5 million people. The march was organized by the Unified Young Armenians. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Lamont Garrett said about 4,500 demonstrators participated, with many carrying Armenian flags and banners as they marched down Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. At the end of the route, near Hobart and Sunset boulevards, speakers made remarks to the crowd before they moved on toward the Turkish consulate for another demonstration.

Armineh Aslanan spent Tuesday running from Montebello to Los Angeles and back to her hometown of Glendale as she tried to attend as many Armenian Genocide Commemoration events as she could. “I feel that it's something that every Armenian should do, they should at least attend one of the events,” Aslanan said. “To remember. To give respect.” Aslanan was one of nearly 1,400 people who packed the Alex Theatre Tuesday night at a city-sponsored event commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire massacred roughly 1.5 million Armenians.

A member of the Canadian parliament and a filmmaker whose latest feature focuses on a musician searching for a family heirloom lost during the Armenian Genocide are just two highlights of the upcoming Week of Remembrance. Each year, Glendale commemorates the Armenian Genocide of 1915 with a week of events in April. About 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire over the course of several years through massacres and death marches, which modern day Turkey has refused to acknowledge as genocide.

Kim Kardashian apparently wants more than just a regular table at the Carousel restaurant in Glendale. In an online clip for an upcoming episode for her sister's show, “Khloe & Lamar,” Kardashian revealed her newfound political ambitions: “I decided I'm going to run for the mayor of Glendale.” Representatives for the reality TV star did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her latest musings, published Tuesday by www.radaronline.com....