California Senator Pérez at Kersting Court (File Photo – Daniel Peters)
California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) expressed deep concern over what she called a “disturbing retreat” from national recognition of the Armenian Genocide, criticizing both the White House’s omission of the word “genocide” in its recent statement and the abrupt cancellation of a student-led film screening at UC Berkeley.
By News Desk
Senator Pérez, who stood with the Armenian community on the 110th anniversary of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, acknowledged past bipartisan progress — including 2019 congressional resolutions and a 2021 White House statement officially recognizing the mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
But in April 2025, the White House chose not to use the word “genocide” in its commemorative statement — a decision Pérez denounced as a “painful insult” to Armenian Americans and descendants of survivors worldwide.
“I am deeply troubled that we are retreating from our commitment to honor and remember this global tragedy,” Pérez said. “Here in California, our commitment to recognizing the Armenian Genocide is unwavering, regardless of the direction of the President’s Administration.”
Pérez also condemned the University of California, Berkeley for canceling a student-led screening of My Sweet Land, a documentary on the Armenian Genocide. The event, organized in collaboration with the Armenian Students’ Association, was called off by UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center citing undisclosed “safety concerns.” No further details were provided by the university.
The Senator expressed outrage over reports from the Armenian Students’ Association alleging the cancellation may have been prompted by external pressure from the Azerbaijani government.
“The Armenian American community deserves a better explanation,” Pérez said. “I am deeply concerned by reports from the Armenian Students’ Association at UC Berkeley that the Berkeley Human Rights Center postponed this showing after pressure was exerted by the government of Azerbaijan.”
As Chair of the California State Senate Education Committee, Pérez pledged to seek full transparency from UC Berkeley and emphasized the importance of safeguarding both free expression and student safety on campus.
“I believe institutions of higher education, especially ones like UC Berkeley that have a deep history of balancing free speech and student safety, should take a hard look at this incident and the pain they knowingly caused.”
Her statement comes at a time of growing national debate over the treatment of historical memory, academic freedom, and foreign political influence — particularly on college campuses. Pérez emphasized the critical need for transparency, historical honesty, and the protection of student voices — especially in institutions long hailed as defenders of free speech.
“I expect transparency from UC Berkeley and will be reaching out for a full explanation,” Pérez concluded.
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