Thousands of people gathered at the Montebello monument April 24th to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Many gathered to hear speakers such as Congressman Adam Schiff, California treasurer John Chiang, as well as others that shared their stories. The yearly event occurs April 24th because that was the day in 1915 that about 300 Armenian leaders in Turkey were rounded up and deported or killed, nearly 5,000 impoverished Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.

“This is for people who are the children of the survivors.” Said Viken Pakradouni, former chairman of the San Gabriel Valley chapter of the Armenian National Committee that held the night event.

“It’s meant to be informative not only to Armenians but to the public officials,” Pakradouni said. “The idea is to educate.”

“What’s happening today with this on going problem with ISIS is what they were doing to our ancestors back then, random killings and such. This is something that needs to be recognized, you know? You can’t tell me it didn’t happen,” said Sarkis Antonian, another gentleman there to honor and commemorate the memories of the Armenian Genocide.