Huge Los Angeles march commemorates 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians

Demonstrators carrying signs and Armenian flags march in Los Angeles Friday, April 24, 2015, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire rule over Turkey, and to press for recognition by Turkey and the U.S. that the killings should be considered genocide. Demonstrators carrying signs and Armenian flags march in Los Angeles Friday, April 24, 2015, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire rule over Turkey, and to press for recognition by Turkey and the U.S. that the killings should be considered genocide.

By Associated Press April 24, 2015 3 min read

LOS ANGELES – Tens of thousands of people marched in Los Angeles on Friday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire, and to press for recognition by Turkey and U.S. that it was genocide.

Throngs carried flags and signs, and most wore black on the 6-mile walk under gray skies from Little Armenia to the Turkish Consulate, which rejects the characterization of genocide.

A slogan emblazoned on shirts read: “You cannot silence history. Genocide is no mystery.”

The event comes after President Barack Obama once again stopped short of calling the 1915 killings genocide, going back on a campaign promise and prompting anger in the Armenian community.

“I was extremely disappointed in Obama,” said Andrea Marootian, 54, of San Diego. “As an American, I’m disappointed. As an Armenian, I’m disappointed.”