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7:19 p.m.: Roughly 100,000 people rally for Armenian genocide remembrance without incident
About 100,000 people gathered Friday afternoon to march on the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officer Jane Kim told KPCC Friday evening that there had been no major incidents reported during the demonstration, and that the massive crowd had begun dispersing from the area surrounding the Turkish consulate since a little before 5 p.m.
Several media outlets had earlier reported that a group of Turkish counter-protesters awaiting the marchers at the consulate had been asked to leave.
— Miguel Contreras
3:28 p.m.: "Obama promised us he was going to recognize the genocide."
According to estimates from the LAPD, some 50,000 marchers were approaching the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles Friday afternoon to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Demonstrators en route to the consulate held signs decrying President Obama's recent comments, where he came just short of calling the 1915 killings of some 1.5 million Armenians under Ottoman rule a "genocide."
Hermina Terharutyunyan of Glendale joined the thousands of marchers calling attention to the killings. She arrived to the U.S. from Iran 25 years ago, where her grandparents moved after the genocide and said she was marching for her aunt and sister who survived.
"We want Obama to recognize, but shame on him," she told KPCC Friday afternoon. "[Obama] told us when he was elected for the president — he promised us he was going to recognize the genocide, but he is now refusing. He is not saying the 'genocide' word...Armenians are never going to forget 1915."
Terharutyunyan's 16-year-old son Anthony Panosian said, "It's bigger, it's more important this year. It's the hundredth anniversary, and this year everyone feels like Obama was gonna recognize it and [that] Armenia is gonna get their land back, their money back, and everything is just gonna be better."
Turkish demonstrators at the consulate were asked to leave Friday afternoon as marchers decrying the genocide made their way closer to the diplomatic agency.
Turkish demonstrators asked to leave consulate amid Armenian Genocide march http://t.co/xIsaBMytTx pic.twitter.com/VjrjYC8IQM
— KTLA (@KTLA) April 24, 2015
— Leslie Berestein Rojas
12:10 p.m.: Huge Los Angeles march commemorates Armenian killings
Thousands of people are marching in Los Angeles to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.
Throngs have joined Friday's six-mile walk from the Little Armenia neighborhood to the Turkish Consulate, carrying flags and signs.
The event comes after President Barack Obama once again stopped short of calling the 1915 killings a genocide.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I.
Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, and earlier this month recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after Pope Francis described the killings as genocide.
7:37 a.m.: Los Angeles to march commemorate Armenian killings
Thousands were expected to march in Los Angeles on Friday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.
Mayor Eric Garcetti was among the expected speakers at a morning rally that will be followed by a six-mile procession from the Little Armenia neighborhood to the Turkish consulate.
Protesters will demand the U.S. government acknowledge that the deaths of their ancestors constituted genocide, a term used to describe violence intended to destroy an entire group based on ethnicity, race or religion.
The event comes after President Barack Obama once again stopped short of calling the 1915 killings a genocide, going back on a campaign promise and prompting anger and disappointment among in the Armenian community.
Earlier this month, Turkey recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after Pope Francis described the killings as genocide. The European Parliament has also triggered Turkey's ire by passing a non-binding resolution to commemorate "the centenary of the Armenian genocide."
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide.
"We commemorate with deep respect the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the relocation in 1915 and we share in the grief of their children and grandchildren." The Los Angeles office of the Consulate General of Turkey said in a statement Thursday. "But we are against exploiting history and the sufferings for political purposes. ... The term 'genocide' is a legally binding, morally obstructing, historically wrong and politically misused concept that prevents the discussion of the events."
Officially using the genocide designation could risk U.S. relations with Turkey, an important ally. Turkey withdrew its U.S. ambassador more than four years ago when a House panel approved a resolution branding the killing of Armenians as genocide. The resolution eventually stalled.
Route map
(Courtesy Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA)
Parking map
(Courtesy AGCC-WUSA)
