August 23, 2014 - 10:51 AMT
LA Community Colleges District Board passes resolution on Genocide

During a special meeting earlier this week, the Los Angeles Community Colleges District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution designating the month of April 2015 as “Los Angeles Community College District Month of Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915” reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region.

The very strongly worded resolution also incorporates Armenian Genocide education and awareness as part of the district’s teachings and campus activities, and calls on the United States President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment, with reparations, of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

“This is very personal to me because about 16 years ago I had the opportunity to work on a bill that hangs in my office, to recognize and authorize the education of teachers so that they could be trained to teach about the Holocaust and Genocide education. It is probably one of the proudest pieces of accomplishments in my public life. And today, there is no prouder moment as a Jewish American to stand with my brothers and sister in the Armenian community to recognize their tragedy, recognize this genocide,” stated Board President Scott Svonkin prior to roll call.

“On the eve of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, adoption of this resolution by the Board of Trustees will go a long way toward ensuring that the LACC community—faculty and staff—become aware of the first modern genocide. Study of 20th century world history would be incomplete without familiarity with the Armenian Genocide, its impact on global events, and subsequent genocides then, and also the manner in which it has shaped and affected the Armenian American community of California,” said Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of the ANCA Western Region.