Road Closures: Thousands March for Victims of Armenian Genocide

Thousands of people took to the streets of Hollywood today, marching to the Turkish consulate to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The commemoration began with City Councilmen Mitch O’Farrell and Paul Krekorian, along with a host of other elected officials, including the bulk of the City Council and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, dedicating Armenian Genocide Memorial Square on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue.

According to O’Farrell’s office, the marker will “show that the city of Los Angeles recognizes the history of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the impact the event had on the Armenian community.”

“One hundred years ago, the Ottoman Empire attempted to annihilate an entire race in the first genocide of the last century,” Schiff said. “When it was over, 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children lay dead and many thousands of others barely survived. Despite a brutal campaign of massacres, forced death marches, lootings and rape, the Young Turks failed to destroy the Armenian people as evidenced by the vibrant diaspora and Armenian nation.”

Following the dedication ceremony, a “March for Justice” began, moving through the streets of Hollywood to the Fairfax district and en route to the Turkish Consulate at 6300 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S. census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian descent.

The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915 that about 300 Armenian leaders were rounded up and deported or killed, and about 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.

On Thursday, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Krekorian and other leaders from around Los Angeles County planted a pomegranate tree on the City Hall lawn to mark the 100th anniversary.

Schiff and other elected officials had harsh words this week for President Barack Obama, who has not yet made good on a campaign pledge to officially recognize the killings as a “genocide.”

Krekorian -- the first Armenian-American to be elected to Los Angeles city office -- said it was “shameful” that the president and Congress “still again today have failed to tell Turkey, that ‘No, we do not accept your denial of accountability.”’

Avoiding the use of the word “genocide” is seen as an effort by the White House to preserve chances of Turkish cooperation on Middle East conflicts, particularly in the civil war in Syria. Turkey is also one of the United States’ NATO allies.

With thousands of people jamming Los Angeles streets for the march, motorists were being advised to avoid the following areas to accommodate the event:

-- Hollywood Boulevard between Western and Serrano avenues;

-- Sunset Boulevard from Western to La Brea Avenue;

-- La Brea between Sunset and Wilshire boulevards; and

-- Wilshire Boulevard from La Brea Avenue to 6300 Wilshire Blvd., near Crescent Heights Boulevard.

Traffic will be restricted -- possibly for much of the day -- at the following intersections:

-- Wilton Place and Sunset;

-- Gower Street and Sunset;

-- Cahuenga and Sunset boulevards;

-- Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard;

-- Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea;

-- Melrose and La Brea avenues;

-- Beverly Boulevard and La Brea;

-- Third Street and La Brea;

-- Sixth Street and La Brea;

-- Hauser and Wilshire boulevards; and

-- Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

The streets and intersections are expected to reopen on a rolling basis as the march passes.

Detours will be in place on Metro bus routes 2, 20, 212/312 and 217, along with DASH bus Wilshire and Hollywood.

OTHER PATCH HEADLINES

• Nationwide, West Hollywood is the Only Place to Get the Apple Watch Today
• Hillary Clinton to Hold LA Fundraiser
• LAPD Police Horse Tagged at Venice Beach
• Police Investigate Threat to Blow Up South Bay Church
• Sherman Oaks Massage Therapist Accused of Sexually Battering Clients
• Two Dogs Killed in Belmont Shore House Fire
• Waze Traffic App Teams up with LA on Road Closure and Hit & Run Information
• Carson Approves $1.7 Billion Football Stadium

City News Service

Photo Credit: Twitter user Ted Nicolas ‏@CreoleFolks