Mayor Marty Walsh has issued a statement of apology to the Armenian community of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and rescinded a recent proclamation declaring February 26 Khojaly Commemoration Day, The Armenian Weekly reported. 

“Unfortunately on our part, this was done without our typical review process, which includes conferring with all those potentially impacted,” the apology letter reads. “Following conversations with leaders of the Armenian-American community, we realize that this proclamation has been hurtful to many of you.”

For the past week, members of Boston’s Armenian community and abroad have been contacting the mayor’s office, urging him to reverse the proclamation following a call to action from the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region.

But this is not the first time that a US municipal or state government has declared February 26 Khojaly Commemoration Day. Nearly identical proclamations were announced by the mayor of Portland, Maine, and the governor of Minnesota.