Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca visited the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs’ Monument earlier this month, laid a wreath and paid respect to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian victims of the Armenian Genocide, Asbarez reports.
After prayers at the memorial, Baca laid a wreath and commemorated Genocide victims. Montebello Armenian community leaders and clergy were also present at the event.
“The memorial behind me is significant because the memories are required in all Holocaust activities throughout the world. In this particular case, this is the first of the greatest of the genocides in the history of mankind; the Armenian society that was slaughtered between 1915 and 1921. So the tribute today is because of the holiness of life and that the Armenian –American society requires justice,” said Baca after the brief ceremony.
Baca also urged the government of Turkey to “put forth a serious attempt to reconcile the loss.”
“Now… there is a need to discuss what is justice in circumstances that happened close to a hundred years ago,” said Baca. “So I am confident that until that happens, the significance of the loss and the lack of justice will continue to burn in the hearts and minds of Armenian-Americans and Armenians throughout the world.”
After paying respects at the Montebello Martyrs Monument, Baca joined the community for lunch at the Armenian Center, where various issues of concern to the community were discussed.
Weeks prior to Baca’s visit to the Armenian Genocide monument, Baca met with a delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee at its headquarters in Glendale.
During the more than two-hour meeting with Baca, challenges facing Los Angeles County as well as issues pertaining to the Armenian-American community were discussed in great length.
The Central Committee conveyed its position and concerns regarding the sheriff’s recent efforts to engage in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. Baca demonstrated his understanding about the Central Committee’s concerns and expectations.
