A display commemorating the Assyrian Genocide
NORTH HOLLYWOOD—The Assyrian American Association of America, in collaboration with the Assyrian Genocide (Seyfo) Research Center, hosted a memorial event at its community center on August 7, 2017 to commemorate Assyrian Martyrs’ Day. Speakers included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, California State Senator Scott Wilk, California Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian,, LAUSD Board Member Scott Schmerelson and ANCA-WR Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, among others. The ANCA-WR Board of Directors, staff and interns were present to show solidarity with the Assyrian community.
Assyrian Martyrs Day is commemorated annually on August 7, which marks the beginning of the Simele massacre of Assyrians by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Iraq in 1933. However, the day has come to represent the commemoration of all Assyrians who have been persecuted throughout history—from the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks by the Ottoman Turks to the Islamic State’s current persecution of Assyrians in Iraq and Syria.
ANCA-WR Board Chairwomen Nora Hovsepian speaks as the memorial event
“On occasions like this, when we gather to remember the victims from 100 years ago, and to remind the world that the lessons of history must be learned so they are not repeated, words like ‘Never Again’ ring hollow … Last year, the United States Congress and the European Parliament declared that atrocities committed by ISIS constitute genocide against Christians and Yezidis. Yet, the same geopolitical considerations that failed to hold Turkey accountable 100 years ago continue to allow Turkey to escape accountability for its brazen support of ISIS as it commits a new genocide,â€
