Name: Shant Kahvedjian

Age: 19

City: Pasadena

School: Pasadena City College

Occupation: Student

How many days will you be marching?
Full-time

Why did you decide to participate as a marcher?
Because I want to honor our ancestors, and just let everyone know that we will not forget what happenned 90 years ago. The least I could do is walk 215 miles.

What do you hope to achieve by participating in this march?
I would hope our struggle would stop being a struggle. I hope our efforts won't be ignored and I hope that people understand the loss we had, and that 1.5 million people that went through a lot of torture won't be unheard of. I hope people open their eyes and realize that there was an injustice.

What are you doing to prepare for the march?
Mentally, I've been doing a lot of thinking and hoping that there won't be a 91st year of the Armenian Genocide; physically, eating right and going around telling people about the Armenian Genocide.

Do you have any relatives who were Genocide survivors?
Yes

If so, can you talk a little about their experience?
My great grandmother's life was affected when she was only 7 years old, she lost her family; her sisters, her brothers, her mother, her father, she was captured by a turkish family and she would have to babysit. Some time later, the French and English came and took her to an orphanage. She then saw her little brother with another Turkish family, but he would keep on running away from the orphanage because he was a little boy, and he thought that those turks were his family. And she never saw him again after that.

Why do you think it is important for the US to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide?
I believe that The United States being the strongest nation in the world has certain responsabilities on its hands. I believe that injustice must be corrected. I believe that money can't change a history. Ibelieve that if the United States officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide it will add pressure to one frustrated Turkey. The way to avoid further human right violations is by fixing and recognizing the past. We only get stronger by the day, and they get weaker by the second.

What significance does this year being the 90th anniversary of the Genocide have for you?
The 90th anniversary is a turning point. for 90 years, this part of history has been forgotten by the world, its been put aside as if it's not important. if the death of 1.5 million human beings is not important to the world, i don't know what is important. How long can someone hide and deny their actions? For 90 years people sat and just waited for another April 24. we cannot wait for another April 24. We cannot wait for another second to pass. The time is now. It has to stop. A country is getting away with the murder of 1.5 million Armenians, just so their economical gaps won't be broken.... what a beautiful world do we live in huh?