Each year we should pause and reflect on the tragic and brutal events that began on April 24. 1915. On this day. the intellectual and spiritual leaders of the Armenian community were arrested and later sent into exile that most were destined not to survive. With the removal of these leaders. a massive program for uprooting and deporting nearly all of the 2 million Armenians in Turkey began. Over the next year more than 1 million Armenians lost their lives either at the hands of the Turks and Kurds. or through famine in exile. In addition. reports indicated that several hundred thousand Armenian women and children were sold into slavery. Only a small fraction of the Armenian population survived by emigrating to other countries. As a result. the first planned genocide of the 20th century nearly exterminated the Armenian population in Turkey. On April 24 of each year we are provided with an opportunity to deplore mans inhumanity to man and to reflect on the strength of the Armenian people who. despite all odds. have maintained their identity.
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deporting emigrating