Baseless Attacks Fuel Hate and Division Against Armenian Candidates for GUSD Board

BY GREG KRIKORIAN

In response to the April 18 letter by Joann Lo, I feel compelled to address what are misleading and unsubstantiated claims presented to our community. Makes one wonder what is the intent to single out two Armenian American School Board candidates.

As a former member of the Board of Education with more than 20 years of service, and as a current candidate, I welcome fair and thoughtful scrutiny. However, I will not remain silent when criticism crosses into selective targeting and misrepresentation of two Armenian Americans.

Ms. Lo’s assertions reflect a lack of due diligence. Basic research would have shown that I am the founder and president of Hye Hopes Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting displaced children from Arstakh war-torn regions through education and humanitarian aid. This work is a matter of public record.

It is also important to note that all candidate filings are reviewed and vetted by both the Glendale City Clerk and the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office, with a designated public review period for any questions or challenges. Raising concerns well after that process has closed invites questions about intent and fairness.

Equally concerning is the pattern of criticism directed disproportionately at Armenian American candidates. Accountability should be applied consistently to all candidates—not selectively. Voters deserve balanced and fact-based information, not narratives built on partial or interpretive claims creates hate.

I speak not only as a candidate, but as the grandson of Armenian genocide survivors. My family’s history, like that of many Armenian Americans in Glendale, is rooted in resilience and a deep commitment to community. During a time of remembrance for Armenians worldwide, the tone and focus of these attacks are especially troubling.

I appreciate the Outlook Newspapers and the Glendale News-Press for taking responsibility and removing the misleading and divisive op-ed from their online platform.

However, removing the article is only the first step. I am calling for a formal retraction and printed correction to fully address the harm caused and to set the record straight. I also urge both publications to take a clear stand against misinformation, hate, and division.

Glendale is home to one of the largest Armenian American communities in the nation. Armenian students, families, and educators are an integral part of our schools. Any pattern of selective criticism raises valid concerns about equity and representation that should not be ignored.

I encourage voters to seek out verified information, engage in respectful dialogue, and stand against hate! Our community’s strength lies in its diversity and unity. We must protect both by rejecting misinformation and demanding accountability from all voices in our public discourse.

Greg Krikorian is running for Glendale Unified School District Board District B. He was first elected to the board in 2001 and served as its president. In 2022, he announced that he would not seek reelection to the board.