Utahns gather in memory of 1.5 million massacred Armenians

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Armenian Flag waves as hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, talks to hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters as they demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Dabakis told the group that, "Today we are all Armenians" in support of their efforts.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The Armenian Flag waves as hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, talks to hundreds of Utah Armenians and supporters as they demonstrate in front of Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 24, 2015. The demonstration coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed. While scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide, the United States government has avoided using the term officially. Dabakis told the group that, "Today we are all Armenians" in support of their efforts.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· April 24, 2015 5:51 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

About 250 Utah Armenians and supporters demonstrated in front of the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City Friday, marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I-era slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed, and scholars and several European countries consider the massacres as genocide. President Barack Obama has avoided using the term officially, a position that drew protest at commemorations.

Thousands march in L.A. to mark 100th anniversary of Armenian genocide