Calif. Treasurer Fiona Ma to Deliver Keynote at Orange County’s Genocide Commemoration

ORANGE COUNTY — The Armenian National Committee of America – Orange County announced that California State Treasurer Fiona Ma will deliver the keynote address at the Orange County community-wide observance of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The commemoration will take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the OC Armenian Center, 5305 W. McFadden Ave, Santa Ana, California.

“We are deeply grateful to Treasurer Ma for joining our community at this solemn and important occasion,” said ANCA Orange County Board Member Hagop Badolian. “Her presence sends a powerful message that California’s highest-ranking leaders stand with Armenian Americans in our pursuit of truth, justice, and recognition.”

Treasurer Ma, California’s 34th State Treasurer and the first woman of color elected to the position, has been a steadfast advocate for diverse communities across the state. As the state’s primary banker, she oversees trillions of dollars in annual transactions and manages an investment portfolio exceeding $155 billion. She has served in elected office at the local, regional, and state level for nearly three decades, including on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the California State Assembly — where she served as Speaker Pro Tempore — and on the California State Board of Equalization.

The April 24th anniversary marks the date in 1915 when Ottoman Turkish authorities arrested and deported hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, signaling the start of the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians. The Orange County commemoration brings together Armenian churches, schools, cultural organizations, and community members to honor the memory of the victims, celebrate the resilience of the survivors, and reaffirm the ongoing demand for justice and accountability.

This year’s observance carries added significance as Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages remain in Azerbaijani detention, and more than 120,000 Artsakh Armenians continue to live in forced displacement following Azerbaijan’s September 2023 ethnic cleansing campaign.