Thousands of people will march today from Hollywood to the Turkish consulate to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, meaning motorists should anticipate road closures and traffic delays throughout the day.
The commemoration will begin with City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell and a host of other elected officials, including the bulk of the City Council and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, dedicating Armenian Genocide Memorial Square on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue.
According to O’Farrell’s office, the marker will “show that the city of Los Angeles recognizes the history of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the impact the event had on the Armenian community.”
Following the ceremony, a “March for Justice” will move through the streets of Hollywood, then through much of the Fairfax district, ending outside the Turkish Consulate at 6300 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, nearly 194,000 people, according to 2010 U.S. census estimates. About one-third of Glendale residents are of Armenian descent.
The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915 that about 300 Armenian leaders were rounded up and deported or killed, and about 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around Istanbul.
On Thursday, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilman Paul Krekorian and other leaders from around Los Angeles County planted a pomegranate tree on the City Hall lawn to mark the 100th anniversary.
Schiff and other elected officials had harsh words this week for President Barack Obama, who has not yet made good on a campaign pledge to officially recognize the killings as a “genocide.”
“I’m deeply disappointed that the president, once again, will fail to properly describe the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 for what it was — genocide,” Schiff said. “How long must the victims and their families wait before our nation has the courage to confront Turkey with the truth about the murderous past of the Ottoman Empire?”
Avoiding the use of the word “genocide” is seen as an effort by the White House to preserve chances of Turkish cooperation on Middle East conflicts, particularly in the civil war in Syria. Turkey is also one of the United States’ NATO allies.
With thousands of people jamming Los Angeles streets for the march, motorists were being advised to avoid the following areas to accommodate the event:
— Hollywood Boulevard between Western and Serrano avenues;
— Sunset Boulevard from Western to La Brea Avenue;
— La Brea between Sunset and Wilshire boulevards; and
— Wilshire Boulevard from La Brea Avenue to 6300 Wilshire Blvd., near Crescent Heights Boulevard.
Beginning at 8 am, only limited amounts of traffic will be able to pass through the following intersections:
— Wilton Place and Sunset;
— Gower Street and Sunset;
— Cahuenga and Sunset boulevards;
— Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard;
— Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea;
— Melrose and La Brea avenues;
— Beverly Boulevard and La Brea;
— Third Street and La Brea;
— Sixth Street and La Brea;
— Hauser and Wilshire boulevards; and
— Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.
The streets and intersections are expected to reopen on a rolling basis as the march passes.
Detours will be in place on Metro bus routes 2, 20, 212/312 and 217, along with DASH bus Wilshire and Hollywood.
