Armenian Museum Hosts Joint Genocide Commemoration

On Sun., April 27, the Armenian Museum of America, Inc. presented a joint commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the Tibetan Genocide, and the genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Armenian Museum of America has a policy every April to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, sharing the pain with other victim groups who have also been affected by genocide. Prior commemorations have included, among others, the Holocaust, Rwanda, the Ukrainian Holodomor, the Great Irish Famine, the Cambodian Genocide, as well as the genocide in Darfur.

With about 120 attendees, this year’s joint commemoration featured stirring talks by Tenzin Dorjee, the former executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, Anthony Kasongo, executive director of Congolese Genocide Awareness, Inc., and Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the Armenian Weekly newspaper.

In addition to welcoming remarks by Berj Chekijian, the museum’s acting director, and an opening prayer by Rev. Father Archpriest Antranig Baljian of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, there were traditional musical performances by a Tibetan band led by Tenzin Younden, by a Congolese 8^th grader Baraka Salumu, and a moving Armenian song by Ieva Berberian of the band “Words in Snow.”

The Armenian Museum’s Traveling Armenian Genocide Exhibit, which uniquely expounds more on the post-genocide tragedies than most, was on display on the third floor. Also on display in the Terjenian-Thomas Gallery were photographic exhibits both of Tibetan scenes by renowned photographer Sonam Zoksang, courtesy of the Tibetan Association of Boston, and on the Congolese Genocide, courtesy of Congolese Genocide Awareness, Inc. These three exhibits will be on view until May 30, 2014.