With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Vigil at LA City Hall following attack on Armenians in Azerbaijan
Paul Krekorian at a Los Angeles City Council meeting on Aug. 6, 2013.
(
Mae Ryan/KPCC
)
Elected officials and Armenian-American community leaders were set to hold a candlelight vigil Tuesday night on the south steps of the Los Angeles City Hall. The event is in response to military action in the Azerbaijan's Artsakh region by government troops that left Armenian civilians and soldiers dead.
L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian told KPCC that the vigil was meant to call for peace and to denounce what he described as the "outrageous militarization and vicious attacks" by Azerbaijan against those living in the Artsakh region.
"They have routinely violated the ceasefire since 1994, but this last week has seen a dramatic escalation of that," Krekorian said. "It's outrageous, it's unjustifiable, and it should be denounced by the entire international community."
Krekorian said that peace in the region is in the interests of the United States and that these attacks may constitute war crimes.
Support for LAist comes from
"So that's why we are putting together this vigil, and that's why we're going to continue to demand action from our own government in Washington to ensure that we bring peace back to this region," Krekorian said.
Azerbaijan's attack came shortly after meetings Azerbaijan's president had with Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden.
"This is so utterly disrespectful of American interests and the desires of the American people that I think that the American government needs to respond sternly and hold the aggressors accountable," Krekorian said.
Krekorian said that he'd been told that an elderly couple who was murdered and whose bodies were defiled by Azerbaijan's forces have family in Southern California, but that they had yet to identify that family.
The U.S. condemned Azerbaijan's actions, and Kerry issued a statement saying that it was a ceasefire violation which resulted in casualties, including civilians.
"We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and strictly adhere to the ceasefire," Kerry said in the statement. "We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict. ... The United States is firmly committed to working with the sides to reach a lasting and negotiated peace."
The U.S. also condemned the attacks as part of a group overseeing the situation in Azerbaijan, along with Russia and France.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
Best of LAist