David Thomas: “today I ask you to join me in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, under…”

“today I ask you to join me in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, under the direction of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, a campaign of Armenian extermination began. By 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, with another 500,000 forced into Russian exile. Today we recognize the struggle of the Armenian people to live peacefully in their historic homeland. Armenians in the United States and elsewhere should know that their history of suffering has not and will not be ignored. Like the Jewish and Cambodian holocausts, the Armenian genocide stands out as one of the world's most morally reprehensible acts. We need to address and trace the causal factors leading to the rise of totalitarian governments, and ensure that the seeds of Fascism are never again planted. On this day, we all should take a moment to remember those Armenians who died 80 years ago. The United States and our allies should also reaffirm our resolve to ensure that no nation will ever again have the opportunity to participate in mass genocide.”