On April 24, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide was commemorated. According to news reports, 130,000 people were present at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Western Avenue to march about six miles to the Turkish embassy located on Wilshire Boulevard. As the people marched, chants were yelled out such as, “Shame on Turkey!” “Turkish youth, learn the truth!” “1915 never again!” “Paykar paykar minchev verj!” Everyone from newborns to grandparents were out marching for what they believe in.

Almost everyone had some sort of object on them that represented Armenia. Scarves, hats, flags, picket signs, and clothing commemorating the Armenian genocide could be seen on the marchers. Many Armenians also decorated their cars in raising awareness of the Armenian genocide.

Besides the Armenian people, many others supported the march to make the Armenian genocide recognized as well. Some students from Hollywood High School stood outside their high school with banners and posters to commemorate the genocide. Many non-Armenian owned businesses had writings on the store windows in commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

There were even other races who marched the whole six miles with the fellow Armenians. Rene Hernandez, a junior at Clark Magnet High School, said he had planned to participate in the march, ”I feel like the Armenian people are doing so much for their country and it is very sad that it still isn’t recognized,” Hernandez said. “It has been 100 years. Why won’t the government accept it?”

Many held bright blue signs with writing that sent a thank-you message to those countries who accepted the Armenian genocide such as Greece, Poland, Sweden, and Venezuela. There were piles of packaged bottles of water for those who are marching. The weather was very cloudy and it seemed like there was going to be rain, but fortunately there wasn’t. Clark junior Evangelin Mahmoudian participated in the march. “Even if it does rain I’m sure all these people would continue to march until the reach of the Turkish embassy,” Mahmoudian said.

In front of the Turkish embassy, a famous Armenian singer, Harout Pamboukjian, sang Armenian folk songs and the crowd began singing and dancing along with him. Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian addressed the protesters by saying, ”The march is not over. The march continues after today.” He then asked the crowd to scream out the names of people for whom they were marching. In an instant, names like Ani, Armenuhi, David, Arkah, Joseph and Petros were shouted among the people. One woman even had a framed picture of her family that had been slaughtered by the Turks.

As a candidate in 2008, President Obama used the word “genocide” and admitted that it happened and that he would give effort in finding a solution. Today, as president, he does not use the word genocide. Congressman Adam Schiff, who addressed the crowd, said, ”It would have been better if the president had said nothing at all.”