U.S. lawmaker urges FBI to probe hate crime against Armenian schools

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Congressmen Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman strongly condemn the hateful acts of vandalism and trespassing directed against Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School and AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in the San Fernando Valley as school officials reported finding Turkish flags hanging on campus as they arrived at school in the morning.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating what they are calling an alleged ‘hate incident’ at two Armenian private schools after officials say their campuses were vandalized with Turkish flags overnight.

"Private Armenian schools in Southern California were vandalized today with Turkish flags. These schools are attended by many descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, and I stand with the Armenian community in condemning this act of hate," Schiff said in a statement.

"Authorities are investigating the incident and I’m hopeful they will identify the suspects to prevent additional threats and intimidation."

Sherman said the act is particularly cruel to those whose family members died in the Armenian Genocide.

"I call on law enforcement to make arresting the vandals a high priority," he said.

"These incidents may constitute a violation of federal hate-crimes statutes. See 18 U.S.C. Section 247.

"Accordingly, I will urge the FBI to investigate this hate crime and federal prosecutors to prosecute to the full extent of the law."