One hundred years ago this week, authorities of the Ottoman Empire rounded up hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and political leaders in Constantinople and executed them. One and a half million would eventually die in what we today know as the Armenian Genocide.
Some who were fortunate enough to survive fled to places like Fresno, which will observe the centennial with events throughout the week, including the dedication of a new monument at Fresno State, and renaming of a street in downtown Fresno. Valley Edition spoke with two leaders of the local Armenian community to reflect of the history of the genocide, the politics that continues to make it a controversy today in Turkey, and the upcoming events in Fresno.
Guests:
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies Professor at Fresno State
Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of the Armenian Republic in Fresno