Marches All Over the World Against the Silence of the World

• 04.26.2015, 11:05
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Armenia,  Analytics

April 24, 2015 marked the 100^th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – 100 years of injustice, pain, bleeding wounds and awful memories. 100 years of silence of many people, countries that have politicized this question and deny recognizing the Genocide – an ever-present reality, a historical fact. Armenian Genocide has been recognized by 20 countries, various international organizations and 43 US states. Armenian Genocide has also been recognized and condemned on different levels in many countries. However, there are still many countries that should recognize and also make Turkey do the same. It is only with doing so that we can be sure that the humanity will not face another genocide. Turkey should not only recognize but also compensate for all atrocities, damages they have caused to Armenian nation.

On the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide thousands of events were organized all over the world aimed at commemorating the memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, to remind the whole world about the crime against humanity, that still the justice has not been restored. The events were also a call against indifference, the silence of the world. They were wake-up calls. On April 23 and 24 in different corners of the world marches of thousands of people commemorating the Centennial of the Genocide took place.

In the US, in Los Angeles thousands of people marched from Litlle Armenia neighborhood to the Turkish Consulate with flags and signs in their hands. In Beirut, people with flags and posters written on them "I remember and demand," "100 years of impunity," "Criminal Turkey" walked from the Armenian Church to a soccer field where the commemoration service took place. "Death to the fascist government of Turkey" – this is how thousands of people in Tehran started their march from the Armenian Church and went to the Embassy of Turkey. "Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in the Armenian genocide 100 years ago in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, when over a million Armenians were subjected to state-sanctioned murder, rape and massive forced deportations," – the Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio said on April 24, news.am reports. On that day more than 130,000 people in New York marched in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

March in Ottawa, Canada began Parliament Hill, from where people walked to the Embassy of Turkey. "Remembering genocides and commemorating them is one important step towards making sure that genocides and human rights atrocities around the world do not happen again," – cbc.ca quotes Daron Keskinian’s, the chair of the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada, words.

"100 years have passed since the leaders of the Ottoman Empire decided to wipe off Armenians from the face of the Earth. For 100 years the Turkish state has attempted to distort history and for 100 years we have prevented it," – armenpress.am cites the proclamation of the Uruguay youth issued on April 24 before the rally started with the participation of thousands of people, among them Mayor of Montevideo, Senators, Ministers, Deputies and representatives of Armenian political parties. Hundreds of people in Cyprus from the center of the Cypriot capital Nicosia marched to the Armenian Church to participate memorial service.

Of course, these are not all the cities, countries where marches and events commemorating the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide took place. It would be impossible to innumerate all of them. However, even those mentioned above already form a picture of what was happening in the world on April 23 and 24, how the people of the world were trying to wake those up, who are still asleep, who still have not recognized the historical fact. Of all these marches and events, of special importance was the rally in Taksim Square in Istanbul, where thousands of people - not only Armenians, but Turks as well, gathered to commemorate the Centennial of the Genocide. This was not the only event in Turkey. In different parts of the country several such events were organized.

This shows that even among the Turkish society there are those, who accept the crime of their forefathers, who admit that there was Genocide and it is only by facing the reality that there could be a reconciliation of the Armenian and Turkish people. Unfortunately, Turkish authorities have not or do not want to realize this and continue their denial policy. In such a situation nothing is left than to continue our struggle for justice remembering that April 24, 2015 was not an endpoint of our struggle, but a milestone after which with a new strength we will continue it and will demand not only recognition, but also compensation…