The main topic of Glendale City Council’s August 15 public hearings was Caruso Affiliated’s refusal to post the billboards for the Armenian Genocide film “Architects of Denial” at the Americana at Brand. Hayern Aysor, citing Asbarez Daily, reports that for nearly two hours, citizens of Glendale (public and political figures, lawyers and students) expressed their wrath and concerns against the decision of the Americana’s administration and urged the members of Glendale City Council to condemn this position which is insulting for the Armenians (the Armenians make up almost half of the population of Glendale) and demanded that the administration of Caruso Affiliated change its decision. The speakers particularly stated that the decision on prohibiting the billboards is similar to denial of the Armenian Genocide, which is the final stage of genocide. According to the residents, the administration of Americana joins the architects of denial. The attendees also reminded that construction and functioning of the Americana shopping center was mainly made possible through the efforts of the Armenian community that voted in favor of allocating an area to Caruso Affiliated and are now being treated this way in return.

The first to speak was California State Senator Anthony Portantino, who expressed his concern about Caruso Affiliated’s position that he had also expressed in his letter addressed to the administration. “The California Senate has recognized the Armenian Genocide, and I hope the Senate’s example inspires others,” the Senator stated, calling on Caruso Affiliated to allow the placement of the billboards at the Americana. Portantino also granted copies of his letter to the members of Glendale City Council.

Presenting himself as a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors, member of the Armenian Bar Association Armen Hovhannesyan noted that we are witnessing one of the most dangerous methods of denial of genocide. “In its response letter, Caruso Affiliated notes that the issue is political, requires a bilateral approach and that the company has also taken into consideration the Turkish position. With this approach, Caruso Affiliated is eliminating our real history and our heritage that our forefathers passed down to us,” the speaker noted, calling on Glendale City Council to take immediate measures.

Nora Yacoubian noted that censure is wrong and it is worse when it is aimed at silencing the truth and, in this case, against the large Armenian community of Glendale through which Caruso Affiliated earns most of its profits. “I address you and call on you to adopt a resolution on making Caruso Affiliated put an end to the censure, allow us to tell the whole truth about the history and with honor, the way it should be told,” Armenian American public figure Nora Yacoubian said as she addressed the members of the Council.

The non-Armenian citizens of Glendale also spoke at the event. Glendale’s longstanding public figure, former candidate of Glendale City Council Mike Mohil expressed disappointment with Caruso Affiliated’s commentary stating that the film is very political, stating that Turkish lobbyists will always fight to prevent the dissemination of any truthful fact about the Armenian Genocide. “Mr. Caruso, if the world had condemned the crime perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, there would not be a Holocaust against my nation [Jews] that took the lives of 6,000,000 people. Let the billboards for the film “Architects of Denial” be posted,” Mohil addressed the founder of the Americana. He also recalled that the Armenian community provided great support to Rick Caruso during construction of the Americana.

Sharon Wiseman recalled the latest acts of violence of Erdogan’s security officers against peaceful demonstrators in Washington DC, noting that Caruso actually supports the Turks’ policy by prohibiting the placement of billboards for the Armenian Genocide film.

She added that Caruso Affiliated is letting the lie remain and that even though she is non-Armenian, she shares the Armenian nation’s pain and suffering and is ready to join the Armenians in the fight against the Turkish propaganda machine.

It should be mentioned that young Armenians were also attending the public hearings and giving speeches with great emotions. In his speech, Ara Manukyan, 20, particularly stated the following: “This is not denial of a simple billboard. This is a way of letting another country interfere in our city’s affairs. This is creating a dangerous precedent for all citizens of Glendale, and it’s not only about the Armenian American community. I urge all citizens of Glendale to speak out against this intolerable act.”

Student of USC Inessa Kazumyan noted that the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact just like the Holocaust and is undisputed. “Would you deny placement of any billboard related to the Holocaust or other genocide? I doubt it,” she said.

Marina Manukyan noted that, by trying to deny the Armenian Genocide, Caruso Affiliated is also denying one of the pages in the history of the United States of America when thousands of Americans extended a helping hand to the Armenians and showed their humanitarianism through the Near East Relief in the early 20^th century.

Lena Pozoyan urged the members of Glendale City Council to condemn the position and make the administration of Americana responsible for its actions so that it considers the cultural values of the residents of Glendale when it makes decisions, so that historical injustices are never repeated, so that the perpetrators of the Genocide don’t take advantage of the silence and so that hatred and denial are never permitted in Glendale.

Lawyer Lara Yeretsyan considered it an irony that the leaders of the company that addressed the Armenian community for support for construction of the Americana are now ignoring those who voted for them. “I am boycotting the Americana. I will not visit the shopping center until Caruso Affiliated gives a fair solution to this issue,” she concluded.

Garo Ghazarian considered the style of the company’s response letter inadmissible, stating that addressing the Armenian Genocide as some “topic” is intolerable.

Among other speakers were journalist and public figure Harut Sassounian and Karen Yeghbayryan, who have presented their views in the presses.

The hearings were recapped by the members of Glendale City Council, who agreed to include the issue in the next agenda. Paula Divine particularly suggested taking various actions, including legal actions to find a way out of the situation.

Vrej Aghajanian suggested reconsidering Glendale City Council’s contract with Caruso Affiliated. Zareh Sinanyan stated that the decision of the leadership of the Americana is the result of a clear-cut policy. “I can’t believe this is happening in our city. When this issue came up two weeks ago, we thought this was perhaps the response letter of an uninformed employee of Caruso Affiliated, but today it is clear that this is an institutional decision, which I consider fully disrespectful towards the Armenian community. If Caruso Affiliated affirms denial of the Armenian Genocide, then it also affirms the Armenian Genocide. If it affirms the Genocide, it means I am in danger at the Americana. This is how I interpret the situation, and I will not set foot at the Americana until the issue is not cleared up and there is no fair solution,” Sinanyan stated.

Mayor of Glendale Vartan Gharpetian informed that he was offended by the attitude of the Americana’s administration and noted that human rights had been violated. “We will reconsider our contract with Americana,” the mayor assured.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale chapter had let the Armenian community know about the need to participate in the public hearings. Chairman of the Glendale chapter Artin Manoukian also presented the call of the thousands of residents who had addressed Caruso Affiliated with letters for the restoration of justice.

“It is a condemnable and very astounding phenomenon, taking into consideration the fact that the Americana is based in a state, in a city that has recognized the Armenian Genocide and officially commemorates the Armenian Genocide every year. So, this subject is closed and is not debatable. Meanwhile, in its response letter, Caruso Affiliated is comparing the view of the Armenian community and the view of the Turkish Consulate and has decided to, as the company puts it, “stay neutral” and accepts this view. This is insulting for us, and the Armenian National Committee is preparing to mobilize the community. Even today, at Glendale City Council, we gave speeches and clearly expressed our position. Our demand is that Caruso Affiliated touch upon their mistake, correct it apologize to the community, develop normal relations and not only benefit from the community’s needs, but also help take care of them,” Artin Manoukian stated and informed that the Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale chapter has requested a meeting with Director of Caruso Affiliated Rick Caruso.

NANE AVAGYAN