Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
House Recognizes Armenian Genocide in Rebuke to Turkey
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
October 30, 2019

Share

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to recognize the century-old mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide.
The move comes as a clear rebuke to NATO ally Turkey in the wake of its invasion of northern Syria.
But for members of Congress from the central San Joaquin Valley and other regions of California with large Armenian immigrant populations, the resolution’s passage was long-overdue recognition of the 20th century’s first genocide.

Watch: Rep. Jim Costa Speak About Armenian Genocide


Emotions Flow on Capitol Hill

“I’m proud our nation has finally found the courage to acknowledge this tragedy and injustice,” said TJ Cox, a Fresno Democratic who co-sponsored the resolution. “Our previous silence was an insult to the Armenian-American community. We must acknowledge acts of war against innocent civilians wherever they occur, to defend human dignity and stop these atrocities from happening again.”


“Our previous silence was an insult to the Armenian-American community. We must acknowledge acts of war against innocent civilians wherever they occur, to defend human dignity and stop these atrocities from happening again.” — Rep. TJ Cox 
Tweeted Southern California Democrat Adam Schiff: “The House just voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide — a vote I fought for 19 years to make possible, that tens of thousands of my Armenian American constituents have waited decades to see.”


And, there was this tweet from Rep. Jackie Speer, a Bay Area Democrat:


State Sen. Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) saluted the historic day, saying in a tweet, “I am a staunch supporter of the House’s efforts to finally give formal recognition to the Armenian Genocide, and appreciate the bipartisan efforts behind this resolution.”

1.5 Million Armenians Killed by Ottoman Turks

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed around World War I, and many scholars see it as the 20th century’s first genocide. Turkey disputes the description, saying the toll has been inflated and considering those killed victims of a civil war.
The nonbinding resolution passed 405-11 Tuesday.

House Also Passes Sanctions on Turkey

A bipartisan bill punishing Turkey for its invasion of northern Syria and illustrating both parties’ dismay with President Donald Trump’s retreat from the region sailed easily through the House as well.
Despite Congress’ acrimonious partisan divisions over Democrats’ impeachment investigation of Trump, lawmakers approved the sanctions by a lopsided 403-16. Republicans supported the measure 176-15. The lone voting Democrat to oppose the measure was Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
The measure would bar most U.S. weapons sales to Turkey and slap sanctions on foreigners attempting to send the Turks military equipment. It would also block high-ranking Turkish officials from their assets in the U.S. and restrict their travel here.
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

DON'T MISS

UnitedHealth Spent $1.7 Million on Executive Security in 2024, Filing Shows

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Obamacare’s Preventive Care Coverage Mandate

DON'T MISS

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

DON'T MISS

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

DON'T MISS

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

DON'T MISS

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman, Tied to Fentanyl ‘M30 King,’ Sentenced to Federal Prison

DON'T MISS

Tesla Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claiming Sudden Acceleration in Ohio Crash

UP NEXT

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

UP NEXT

Trump Is Dismantling the Education Dept. How That Might Harm Special Ed

UP NEXT

Fresno Barbershop Shooting Leaves Man Dead, Two Others Injured

UP NEXT

Vance, Modi Welcome Significant Progress on India-US Trade Deal

UP NEXT

Israeli Spy Chief Hands Court Scathing Rebuke of Netanyahu Bid to Sack Him

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

UP NEXT

Merced College Breaks Ground on $21 Million Center Geared for Tomorrow’s Ag Jobs

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest 11 for DUI During Weekend Enforcement

UP NEXT

Israeli Minister Says Freeing Hostages Not ‘Most Important’ Aim of the War

UP NEXT

Palestinian Red Crescent Says Israeli Probe Into Gaza Aid Workers’ Killings Not Enough

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

2 hours ago

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

2 hours ago

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

3 hours ago

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

3 hours ago

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

3 hours ago

Fresno Woman, Tied to Fentanyl ‘M30 King,’ Sentenced to Federal Prison

3 hours ago

Tesla Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claiming Sudden Acceleration in Ohio Crash

4 hours ago

Trump Is Dismantling the Education Dept. How That Might Harm Special Ed

4 hours ago

Special Interests Pour More Than Half a Billion Into CA Lobbying

4 hours ago

Texas Walmart Shooter Who Killed 23 Avoids Death Penalty by Pleading Guilty

5 hours ago

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Paul Atkins, who previously served as a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission member from 2002 to 2008 and wa...

38 minutes ago

CEO of Patomak Global Partners Paul Atkins takes part in a strategic and policy CEO discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Eisenhower Execution Office Building in Washington, U.S., April 11, 2017. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo)
38 minutes ago

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

The corporate logo of the UnitedHealth Group appears on the side of one of their office buildings in Santa Ana, California, U.S., April 13, 2020. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
60 minutes ago

UnitedHealth Spent $1.7 Million on Executive Security in 2024, Filing Shows

2 hours ago

US Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Obamacare’s Preventive Care Coverage Mandate

Pilar Rose, 51, formerly of Fresno, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and obstructing an IRS audit, agreeing to forfeit her mansion and BMW after falsifying financial records to evade taxes and secure fraudulent loans. (Zillow)
2 hours ago

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

Nathaniel Ray Diaz, 21, of Greenfield, is a California state prisoner who has been indicted on federal charges on Monday, April 21, 2025, for allegedly directing a minor to send sexually explicit images while serving time for previous offenses against the same child. (Shutterstock)
2 hours ago

California Prisoner Indicted for Exploiting Child Victim While Incarcerated

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a news conference about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest autism survey in Washington, April 16, 2025. In his first attempt to significantly change the nation’s food supply, Kennedy will direct food manufacturers to phase out eight petroleum-based food dyes that are found in hundreds of thousands of grocery-store staples, the department said on Monday, April 21. (Pete Kiehart/The New York Times)
3 hours ago

Kennedy Plans to Phase Out 8 Commonly Used Food Dyes

3 hours ago

The Superintendent Search Document FUSD Does Not Want You to See

President Donald Trump attends the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 21, 2025. (REUTERS/Leah Millis)
3 hours ago

Trump Approval Rating Dips. Many Wary of His Wielding of Power, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend