While the Armenian Genocide Centenary year is not yet over - with events and activities scheduled through to the end of 2015 - its busiest month of April is now behind us. And it is worth reviewing what transpired here in Australia... because what transpired was almost unbelievable.
The unequivocal community-wide participation in the events and activities dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centenary was absolutely unprecedented, and it needed to be. “The Power of Togetherness” ensured Turkey’s attempts to silence us in Australia and to exploit the centenary of Anzac Day in its ongoing denial of the Armenian genocide horribly failed.
Some key numbers that were reported:
- On March 22nd, 12,000 people attended the Armenian Festival in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, which was dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centenary;
- On April 24th, over 100 Armenian-owned businesses in Australia closed their doors to honour the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide, which resulted in over 1,000 employees of these businesses taking the day off to pay their respects;
- Also on April 24th, 300 school-aged students (Armenians from Armenian and non-Armenian schools) took the day off from regular school to take part in a special "Return to Your Roots" seminar featuring leading scholars at Galstaun College;
- Over 1,500 Armenians protested at the NSW Turkish Consulate on April 24th;
- Over 500 Armenians protested at the Victorian Turkish Consulate on April 24th;
- The National Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening attracted an audience of over 2,200 at the Sydney Town Hall;
- The Melbourne Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening attracted an audience of over 1,000 at Monash University;
- On April 26th, the Homenetmen Australia march dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide attracted over 4,000 members of the Armenian-Australian community;
- On May 2nd, over 1,000 participated in the Divine Liturgy presided over by Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New Zealand;
- Before April 24th, Ryde City Council recognised the Armenian Genocide for a second time - honouring the Centenary;
- After April 24th, Willoughby City Council also recognised the Armenian Genocide.
These events and activities are only a sample. There were other events and activities attracting many hundreds of community members, such as the Historical-Cultural Evening at The Concourse in Chatswood, the Red Sunday Commemoration and Khatchkar Erection at Galstaun College, Exhibitions including Journey to Armenia held at the New South Wales Parliament, Blood Drives, Silent Protests, Protests in Queensland and Western Australia, a Theatre production in South Australia, Social Media Campaigns, Concerts, and much more.
It is true that all these events were well organised, well promoted and well executed. It is true that we welcomed special guests, including leading Human Rights Lawyer and international jurist, Geoffrey Robertson QC, and the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher. It is true that there was unprecedented media coverage of these events and activities here in Australia.
Despite these truths, the bulk of the credit needs to go to our community. You… we... were ready to commemorate the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, and declare our collective demands for justice in the loudest and proudest way possible.
All battles for justice require the will of a people, but also the collective action of those people to act on their will. In Australia, we voted with our feet and showed those who wished that 100 years would become a full-stop in our battle for justice, that it is just another beginning. A stronger beginning.
This is “The Power of Togetherness”, which we have shown to those who stand in our way of justice.
This "Power of Togetherness" also provides a lesson for us, as members of the Armenian world. It proves to us that we can move mountains when we unite.
The Armenian Cause, Hai Tad, has always united Armenians. We have longed for the same unity on other matters of significance - be they national, such as the preservation of Armenia and Artsakh, or be they local, such as supporting community schools and activities.
There is a strong belief out there that the Armenian Genocide Centenary was a reawakening, a Renaissance, for Armenian activism. There is no reason not to share that belief.
The next mountain we move should be Mount Ararat.
(This article is authored by Haig Kayserian, who is Chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Australia)
