(May 4, 2004) — While 1915 may seem like just any ordinary year to many Americans, it carries a whole different meaning in the hearts of the millions of Armenians living in and out of the U.S.. It was during that precise year, on the 24th of April when the beginning of the genocide that claimed an estimated 1.5 million of their ancestors’ lives reared its ugly head. Though the murders were committed by Turks in the Ottoman Empire over a span of seven years, hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans gathered in the Los Angeles area last Saturday area to commemorate the losses. The genocide was marked by a protest in front of the Turkish Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard, a marching rally in east Hollywood, a solemn ceremony in Montebello, prayers and candle-lighting alongside a blood drive at the Glendale Civic Auditorium and a benefit rock concert by System of a Down at the Greek Theater. “[The rally] was a good way to show people of different races what we’ve had to deal with for 89 years,” said freshman Esther Khurdagyan, just one of the many Clark students who attended the march. According to senior Tatevik Patatanyan, the rally was also one of unification that displayed a strong sense of nationalism from the Armenian community. The tone was a different one in front of the Turkish Console, however; the Armenians there demanded formal recognition of the genocide by the Turkish government and even our own. “Canada already admitted to it,” said sophomore Lusine Azatyan. “Now it’s time for America to do the same.” Members of the Armenian Youth Federation in conjunction with Armenian Americans of all ages—from young children to elderly survivors of the genocide—held up signs, waved the Armenian flag and shouted mutually: “Shame on Turkey,” “1915 Never Again” and “We Demand Justice.”