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April 24, 2023
Burbank, California – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) released the following statement today marking his 108th birthday.th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide:
“Mardilos Debretian, Shushan Hoonanian, Aznif Totigian, Mariam Minassian, Haji Martiros Temerian, Armenouhi Tutikian. These names are the names of the more than 1.5 million people who lost their lives in the first genocide of the 20th century. represent a small but precious minority of the men, women and children of
180 years ago, the Ottoman Empire launched a coordinated effort to exterminate the Armenians. Teachers, writers, businessmen and doctors are rounded up and killed, clerics tortured and burned alive in churches, infants torn from their mothers’ arms, sons and daughters witnessing their fathers murdered. Many Armenians were killed outright, and others, including the father of Armenian music, Gomidas Valtabed, were criticized for the magnitude of the massacre. I suffered emotional trauma after witnessing
Despite overwhelming evidence of this organized genocide, Turkey has long campaigned to silence those who deny genocide and tell the truth.
But the United States will no longer be silent. In 2019, for the first time in history, the U.S. House of Representatives passed my resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide by near unanimous bipartisan margin. The Senate also passed a resolution confirming the fact of the Armenian genocide. And he said in 2021, President Joe Biden will finally leave our country behind decades of shameful silence to become the first sitting U.S. president to officially acknowledge the Armenian genocide.
These historic achievements have been made possible thanks to the resilient and enduring Armenian Diaspora. It is a testament to the unwavering efforts of thousands of activists, organizations, communities, and church leaders. This is a victory for human rights and truth itself, and what we have achieved together.
But we know there is work left to be done. Our thoughts and hearts are with Armenia and Artsakh. Because the Armenian people are still under threat and attack, they are suffering the loss of many who died in Artsakh, thousands forced to flee unprovoked attacks by Azerbaijan and Turkey. It’s from and those who remain prisoners of war. Azerbaijan’s unilateral attack on Armenian sovereign territory and the brutal blockade of Artsakh are at risk of another genocide. We have seen this before and should never happen again.
These were the times when aggression and hatred grew unrestrained, and when Aliyev’s hostility was met with deafening silence, encouraging him to continue and escalate his gratuitous attacks on the Armenian people. This is why Azerbaijan is encouraged to believe that it can annihilate the Armenians in its historic homeland. Violence and crimes against humanity occurred 180 years ago or this year or this month. It cannot be left unresolved, regardless of how recent it occurred.
The US must impose sanctions on Azerbaijan and stop US support for warmongers in Baku. The United States continues to press Aliyev to immediately reopen the Rachin Corridor, directs U.S. humanitarian assistance to Artsakh, calls for the safe and unconditional release of the remaining Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians, and seeks religious support from Azerbaijan. and responsible for cultural destruction. Site, and support Armenian democracy and free and independent Aatsakh.
On this solemn anniversary, we stop to remember the innocent victims of the Armenian genocide, and also reflect on the resilience of those who survived and the perseverance of our children and grandchildren who built new lives in the United States. Armenian language, and enriching our country with Armenian culture and heritage. Despite the challenges that the Armenian people have faced and still face, their beliefs, determination or will to survive is not broken. They have survived the toughest trials and tribulations, but here in Los Angeles, Yerevan, Artsakh, and around the world, they remain strong and unyielding. ”
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