The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education has unanimously approved a resolution authored by board member Mónica Ratliff recognizing April as a month to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

The motion was co-sponsored by board president Steve Zimmer and board members Dr. Ref Rodríguez and Scott M. Schmerelson.

From 1915-23, it is estimated that over 2 million Christian Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians were deported and murdered by the Ottoman government. Today, the Republic of Turkey, among other nation states, continues to deny the occurrence of the crimes against humanity.

Nevertheless, the state of California and L.A. Unified are at the forefront of encouraging and promoting a curriculum including human rights and genocide to empower future generations to prevent the recurrence of genocide.

“L.A. Unified is charged with educating youth about all facets of human history, including wars and genocide, to ensure that such atrocities may never happen again,” Ratliff said. “The Armenian Genocide and its impact should be recognized. I look forward to working with the Armenian National Committee of America to ensure that this chapter of human history doesn’t go untold.”

Dr. Kay Mouradian, author of “My Mother’s Voice,” a book about her family’s experience during the Armenian Genocide that was turned into a film, addressed the board in favor of the resolution. Tereza Yerimyan, government affairs director for the Armenian National Committee of America and an LAUSD alum, thanked the board for its dedication to not only recognize the Armenian Genocide but also to teach about it in the classroom. Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is observed annually on April 24.

“April 24 is one day, but the importance of Armenian Genocide recognition needs to be present in our schools and classrooms every day. Genocide education needs to be an essential part of the curriculum,” Zimmer added. “We will not rest until the president and Congress recognize the Armenian Genocide. As long as one genocide remains unrecognized, no genocide is fully understood.”