On April 24, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), vice chair of the Armenian-American Caucus, released a statement commemorating the 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children who were murdered during the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923.

This year marks the first Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day since the House passed Schiff’s legislation, House Resolution 296, last year to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. Schiff led the bipartisan effort, along with the Armenian-American community, for two decades.

“Today marks 105 years since the killings by the Ottoman Turks began in the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide,” Schiff said. “On this Commemoration Day, we remember the 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children who were murdered by the Ottoman Empire. We honor their memory with a pledge to never forget the crime that was committed against them and the Armenian people, and with a commitment to stop all genocides.

“As with all things during this pandemic, this year’s commemoration is different. But for the need to maintain social distancing, I would be standing shoulder to shoulder with tens of thousands of my constituents in Los Angeles as we marched and rallied for justice and truth.

“For almost two decades, I have been proud to carry the Armenian Genocide resolution in the House. It has always been my hope that we would pass it while there were still survivors among us, and we did, although precious few survivors remain. This year’s commemoration day is the first since both the House and Senate, [at] long last, passed resolutions recognizing the genocide. Finally, the U.S. Congress cast off decades of a gag order enforced by Turkey to find its voice, directly state the facts of the genocide and call it what it was. It was a culmination of the work of so many thousands of activists in the Armenian community around the country and their allies in Congress.

“The United States Congress must never again be a party to genocide denial, and it is deeply disappointing that the president today chose not to follow the strong bipartisan example set by Congress with his own statement of recognition. 

“The achievement of Con­gressional recognition is a milestone, but it is not the end of our fight. There can be no end when it comes to remembering. We are called upon to keep sacred the memory of those who were lost and to reject denial of genocide anywhere, and we will continue to fight for truth, justice and reparations.”

Schiff also released a video to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. To view the video, visit facebook.com/watch/?v=2568228073393627.