Henry Waxman: “I join my colleagues in commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Today we solemnly remember the April 24, 1915 onslaught of…”

“I join my colleagues in commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Today we solemnly remember the April 24, 1915 onslaught of the Ottoman Government's eight-year campaign of terror against its Armenian population. We mourn the systematic destruction of Armenian communities, the murder of one and a half million men, women, and children, and the forced deportation of over nearly one million others. This somber anniversary, however, also bears a stark warning. Eighty-six years ago, the world's willingness to ignore the bloodshed against Armenians set the stage for its complacency during Hitler's attempt to annihilate the Jews. Today, the world's resolve against historical revisionism of the Armenian Genocide will be a key determinant of our ability to stand against similar attempts at Holocaust denial. I am proud to acknowledge the Armenian Americans in my district and across the country who have dedicated themselves to preserving the memory of those who were persecuted, and to publicizing the United States records documenting this period. I join them and my colleagues in renewing our commitment to stand against governments that persecute their own people, and to insuring that no act of genocide will ever again go unnoticed or unmourned.”