GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale will be pursuing a resolution in the Glendale Unified School District that aims to mark April 24 as a permanent local holiday among the school system. The bill titled “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide and Man’s Inhumanity to Man” will effectively designate April 24th, which is already a non-instructional day, as a day when the school district will be closed to mark this day of observance for the Armenian Genocide and other mass atrocities. Many communities also use the month to observe atrocities such as the European Holocaust, Rwandan Genocide, Cambodian Genocide, and the start of the Bosnian War which led to the Srebrenica Genocide.
Glendale is home to one of the largest Armenian populations outside of Armenia, making April 24th incredibly important for the local community. Furthermore, 38% of the students within the Glendale Unified School District are Armenian descent.
“This is a unique and historic initiative, which would allow our school administrators, staff, and personnel with an equal opportunity to fully observe this day of remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide” stated Zareh Adjemian, Chairman of ANCA-Glendale.
Adjemian also added, “This is also a great opportunity for the Glendale Unified School District to stand behind their local community in honoring a day which is exceptionally significant to its constituents.”
Hovig Zaki, former student of Glendale High School and a current resident of the city noted, “As a former Armenian student and now a resident, this initiative is extremely important to me and my family, as we have a direct link to the Armenian Genocide, similar to a lot of diasporan Armenians. This effort shows that the community and our elected officials on the school board understand the gravity and significance of the date and are committed to honoring it.”
The ANCA-Glendale will start an online petition drive to garner support from the community beginning this weekend as well as canvassing operations throughout the city to build momentum for the historic initiative.
The ANCA-Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
Source: Asbarez
Link: ANCA-Glendale aims to mark April 24th as Permanent Local Holiday at GUSD