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Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

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Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
Also calledArmenian Genocide Memorial Day
Observed byArmenia
State of California[1]
Canada[2]
France[3]
Argentina[4]
TypeNational
SignificanceCommemoration of the Armenian genocide
Date24 April
Frequencyannual

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenian: Մեծ Եղեռնի զոհերի հիշատակի օր Mets Yegherrni zoheri hishataki or) or Armenian Genocide Memorial Day[5] is a public holiday in Armenia and is observed by the Armenian diaspora on 24 April.[5][6] It is held annually to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915. It was a series of massacres and starvation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottomans. In Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, hundreds of thousands of people walk to the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial to lay flowers at the eternal flame. This day is also called "Armenian Martyrs Day".[7]

History

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Genocide memorial in Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran

The date 24 April commemorates the deportation of Armenian intellectuals on 24 April 1915 from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). The first commemoration, organised by a group of Armenian Genocide survivors, was held in Istanbul in 1919 at the local St. Trinity Armenian church.[8] Many prominent figures in the Armenian community participated in the commemoration. Following its initial commemoration in 1919, the date became the annual day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.[8]

On 9 April 1975, the US House of Representatives passed Joint Resolution 148 designating 24 April as a National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man.[9] The Resolution commemorated the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, The resolution however failed to pass in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee due to President Gerald R. Ford’s strong opposition to what he saw as a threat to the country's strategic alliance with Turkey.[10]

In 1988, Soviet Armenia formally adopted 24 April as a public day of commemoration.[11]: 215 

In 1997 in the US, the California State Assembly declared 24 April as a Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923, and for the victims of the Sumgait Pogroms of 1988 and Baku Riots of 1990.[11]: 232 

In 2007, Argentina passed National Law 26199, designating 24 April as "Day of Action for Tolerance and Respect among Peoples", in which Armenian Argentines are excused from work.[4][12]

In 2015, the House of Commons of Canada unanimously passed Motion M-587, proposed by Brad Butt, marking April to be Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month, and designating 24 April as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day.[13]

In 2019, France marked its first national commemoration of the genocide,[14][15] with French president Emmanuel Macron declaring 24 April "a national day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide", fulfilling a campaign pledge.

In 2021, US President Joe Biden recognized the genocide on 24 April, fulfilling a campaign pledge.[16][17]

On 14 May 2024, the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay unanimously approved a bill that declares April 24 of each year as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day".[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "State of California Commemorates the Armenian Genocide". anca.org. Armenian National Committee of America. 21 April 2005.
  2. ^ "April 24 Declared Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in Canada". Asbarez. 28 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Macron Declares April 24 Commemoration Day of Armenian Genocide in France". The New York Times. via Reuters. 5 February 2019. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Ley 26199". Infoleg.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Adam (2010). Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction. Taylor & Francis. p. 156. ISBN 9780203846964.
  6. ^ Hovannisian, Richard G., ed. (1992). The Armenian Genocide: History, Politics, Ethics. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 339. ISBN 9780312048471.
  7. ^ "Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide". The Armenian Church, Eastern Diocese of America. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b "At the Origins of Commemoration: The 90th Anniversary Declaring April 24 as a Day of Mourning and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide". Armenian Genocide Museum. 10 March 2009.
  9. ^ "United States House of Representatives Joint Resolution 148". Armenian National Institute. 9 April 1975. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  10. ^ Gunter, Michael M. (15 April 2011). Armenian History and the Question of Genocide. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-230-11059-5. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  11. ^ a b Bloxham, Donald (28 April 2005). The Great Game of Genocide: Imperialism, Nationalism, and the Destruction of the Ottoman Armenians. Oxford University Press. p. Google Books PT10. ISBN 978-0-19-150044-2.
  12. ^ The Armenian Mirror-Spectator (22 September 2016). "Argentina's Catamarca Province Recognizes Armenian Genocide". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Brad Butt – Private Members' Motions – 41st Parliament, 2nd Session". Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  14. ^ "France marks first national commemoration of Armenian genocide". France 24. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  15. ^ "France dedicates first Armenian genocide commemorations – 24.04.2019". DW.COM. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  16. ^ Liptak, Kevin (24 April 2021). "Biden officially recognizes the massacre of Armenians in World War I as a genocide". CNN. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Statement by President Joe Biden on Armenian Remembrance Day". The White House. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Uruguay House of Representatives approves bill declaring April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day". Public Radio of Armenia. 15 May 2024.
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