Kalayah Frazier
Staff Writer
About 30 community members gathered at 2:30 p.m. on April 24 at the Rock for the 11th Annual Armenian Genocide Remembrance Ceremony.
Many who attended shared Armenian heritage, and each guest had the opportunity to paint the Rock as a way to show support and solidarity for the victims.
The Armenian Genocide, 1915 to 1916, targeted Armenians who lived in the Ottoman Empire. The mass killing of approximately 1.2 million people was carried out by the Ottoman government to strengthen Muslim Turkish control.
Senior communications major Rebecca Keeler played the cello for the opening of the ceremony to honor the Armenian people who died during the genocide.
Seta Whitby, professor of computer science, talked about how it’s important to shine light on past horrible actions.
“We’re commemorating the Armenian Genocide,” Whitby said. “And in 1915, the Turks massacred a million and a half Armenians.”
Silva Katchiguian, a member of the Armenian International Women’s Association, reminded the guests that the same thing that happened in the Armenian Genocide is happening today.
“The ongoing strife in Ukraine and the current Gaza genocide and deaths in Lebanon illustrate the chilling reality that when hatred and intolerance fester, they lead to unimaginable atrocities that escalate into widespread violence,” Katchiguian said.
Guests discussed the horror of genocide, defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular group of people.
“We remember history not just to learn it, but to honor humanity and make sure genocide and mass murder are things that are never forgotten or ignored,” Katchiguian said.
Part of the ceremony was set aside for people to pray with candlesticks for those who died during the Armenian Genocide and other genocides.
Madison McKinney, baker and owner of Dough Daughters, emphasized how important it is to have the memorial on campus, not just for the Armenian Genocide but for other cultural genocides.
“I would like to see more ceremonies like this around campus for other wars that have happened around the world,” McKinney said. “From historical to present wars that continue to sadly happen…because I feel like multiple cultures have been through a lot of things historically. And I feel like it’s right to bring it to light and to educate people.”
Katherine Demirchyan of the University’s Armenian Law Students Association talked about Armenian culture and the importance of remembering the devastating event.
“The 24th is remembered as the day that all politicians, doctors, lawyers, students, anyone of important stature was killed,” Demirchyn said. “So the fact that we’re standing here in front of the University with … Armenian faculty speaks volumes. They tried their very best to erase us, but we came back 10 million times stronger, and we will continue to be here.”
The event concluded with a moment of silence for the Armenian people who died during the Armenian Genocide and the Armenian ancestors.
Kalayah Frazier can be reached at kalayah.frazier@laverne.edu.
Kalayah Frazier is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in print-online journalism. She is calendar editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She has previously served as a staff writer.
