The City of Los Angeles is home to one of the largest communities of the Armenian Diaspora. The biggest part of Armenian Diaspora is people who escaped from the massacres of Turkey during the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and found refuge in the United States of America. One hundred years have passed and still, the Armenian Genocide has not been recognized. The Armenian community of America is very active in the matter of showing the world how important it is for Armenians to have the Genocide recognized by the whole world, including Turkey.

April 24th, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Every year, Armenian communities in Southern California organize events to raise awareness of the Genocide and to honor those who lost their lives in 1915. The largest of these events is an annual march by thousands of people, which takes place in Little Armenia.

Another big event taking place in Little Armenia is the naming of the Hollywood and Western intersection. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion that will designate the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue as Armenian Genocide Memorial Square.

Armenian Genocide Memorial Square was proposed by Los Angeles City Council members Mitch O'Farrell and Paul Krekorian and approved by the Los Angeles City Council on March 18, 2015. The proposed place for the square is the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue in Little Armenia. The square will honor 1.5 million Armenians that were murdered during the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

“This memorial square will honor the 1.5 million Armenians that perished and the hundreds of thousands more that were permanently displaced while serving as a daily reminder of what happened 100 years ago,” said O’Farrell.

Here is a little paragraph from O’Farrell’s motion: “I THEREFORE MOVE that the intersection at Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue be named as “Armenian Genocide Memorial Square” and that the Department of Transportation is directed to erect permanent ceremonial sign(s) to this effect at this location.”

 This is a big event for all the Armenians, and especially for American Armenians. And it is very much appreciated that someone who does not have Armenian heritage is making this kind of efforts for our nation.

ArmenianBD.com