William Ford: “I rise to speak about the history of Armenia. It is a tragic history, but one we must remember. On April 24, 1915, the…”

“I rise to speak about the history of Armenia. It is a tragic history, but one we must remember. On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman government began the genocide of the Armenian people by rounding up Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders. The government systematically deported every Armenian from every city, town, and village in its control. Deportees who were not immediately executed were forced on death marches. They were tortured, raped, and mutilated. Over a million Armenians died. Some Armenians escaped death. They went on to Europe, Russia, and the United States. Stronger for the tragedy they endured, they live with the knowledge that they are the representatives of a race that was nearly eliminated. In our country, they and their children became Americans and prospered--but they did not forget their own history. In the metro Detroit area, parts of which I represent, local Armenian Americans will gather on Saturday to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the beginning of this holocaust. While we commemorate this genocide, others deny it. It remains incomprehensible to me that the present government of Turkey denies the truth regarding its own history. It is important that Turkey acknowledge and accept responsibility for the mistakes of the past.”