Anna Eshoo: “I wish there was not such an anniversary. This is not in celebration. This is, of course, in commemoration of the…”

“I wish there was not such an anniversary. This is not in celebration. This is, of course, in commemoration of the Armenian genocide and the millions of Armenians who were systematically exterminated by the Ottoman troops. The slaughter began on April 24, 1915, when hundreds of Armenian leaders were arrested and executed in Istanbul and other areas. By the time they were finished, Ottoman troops had executed 1.5 million Armenians including innocent women and children. Tragically, the crying voices of these innocent victims fell upon deaf ears because the international community refused to confront the perpetrators of these atrocities. As the only Member of Congress of Armenian descent, I know full well how the Ottoman Empire decimated people and wrote one of the darkest chapters in human history. I am committed to ensure that their suffering is not diminished and cannot be denied by the perpetrators of this disgraceful policy.”