Van Hollen Statement on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Statement

One hundred years ago today, the Ottoman government arrested and murdered over 250 Armenian intellectuals and political figures in Istanbul, beginning the global tragedy that would become the Armenian Genocide. Over an eight year period, the world lost over 1.5 million Armenian people, who were killed in a brutal and systematic way. It was the first genocide of the 20th century, though many fail to fully recognize it as a genocide. When we refuse to acknowledge what happened as genocide, it becomes easier for some to turn a blind eye when similar atrocities unfold in the world today. On the centennial of one the worst losses of life in human history, we pause to honor the memory of the men, women, and children who were murdered on this day 100 years ago and we recommit ourselves to the human values of peace and tolerance.

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