Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Dear Friend,

Today, we mark the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a crime against humanity that caused everlasting pain and trauma worldwide. Assembly District 52 includes the City of Glendale and is home to an Armenian-American diaspora.

Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were subject to a systematic and premeditated genocide by the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, the Republic of Turkey, who attempted to erase the presence of the Armenian people from their historic homelands. The Turkish government presently maintains an official policy of denial.

In the state legislature, we continue our efforts to ensure that California's history is inclusive of Armenian American history. As such, I recently authored House Resolution 26, alongside my colleagues in the State Assembly, to recognize this loss of life, and commend the work done by educators and advocates who teach students at all levels about the experience of the Armenian people.

As the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to target and persecute Armenians, as witnessed with the internationally condemned blockade of Artsakh, it is as important as ever that our advocacy for Armenians remains front and center.

California owes its greatness to the contributions of all of its diverse communities, and Armenian Americans have enriched our state through their leadership and contribution in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts. Today and always, my office stands ready to amplify the voice of this community.

In Service,

WENDY CARRILLO
Assemblywoman, District 52
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee No.4 on State Administration
Chair, Select Committee on Latina Inequities
Vice Chair, Legislative Progressive Caucus
Member, California Armenian Legislative Caucus