Supporters holding Armenian flags, candles, and images of Hrant Dink gathered in midtown Manhattan across the Turkish Consulate on Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, to honor the anniversary of—and seek justice for—the death of the fearless journalist, who was gunned down by Turkish militants eight years ago.
The candlelight vigil memorial, organized by the New York Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Armen Garo” Gomideh, with support from the New York Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), was presided over by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston, N.Y., and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian of the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral in Manhattan.
In her remarks, writer Taleen Babayan highlighted the strength and courage of a man who took a stand against injustice, not only for the Armenian citizens of Turkey but all marginalized groups unable to exercise their freedom of speech.
“As a journalist and, more importantly, as a human being, Hrant Dink served as the voice for the voiceless, he spoke out against oppression, and he advocated human rights in a world that needs it now more than ever. He wasn’t afraid to put his progressive thoughts to paper, to write words that fueled discussion and debate, because he did it for the betterment of his country of birth. His reach went beyond Armenians. His message was universal: equality and democracy for all.”
Babayan spoke of Dink’s bravery in the face of threats and the opportunities he had to leave Turkey and live safely in the diaspora like millions of other Armenians, but “he refused to abandon his cause and his people. He maintained his steely will in not only protecting his ideals and beliefs but fighting for them despite the seemingly endless obstacles he faced. And until his last moment on this Earth, he championed the truth and he upheld his cause.”
She urged Armenian communities around the world to allow Dink’s legacy to serve as inspiration and to “find what is missing in our community, what we can do to further our cause for genocide recognition, bolster our homeland, preserve our culture in the diaspora, and fill these needs without criticism but in unity and support of one another.”
The two-hour memorial included informational flyers distributed to passersby, prayers, chants for justice, and readings from Hrant Dink’s last columns by Sosy Tatarian.
“Hrant Dink reminds us that the most powerful way we can stand up to injustice is to stand by our words,” said Sossi Essajanian, a member of the “Armen Garo” Gomideh. “He lived the change he dreamed of in Turkey—of a place where people would be free to share their opinions and a place where being Armenian meant being an equal part of society.”
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