Armenian Genocide commemoration events in Rhode Island to feature Dr. Taner Akcam

Armenian Martyrs’ Monument, Providence, RI, April 24, 2021

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island is commemorating the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the weekend of April 29-30, 2023.

The weekend will begin with a panel discussion with Dr. Taner Akçam on Saturday, April 29 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. at the Providence Marriott Downtown at One Orms Street. Dr. Akçam will be joined on the panel by George Aghjayan, director of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Archives and member of the ARF Central Committee of the Eastern US and Hrag Arakelian, chairman of the ARF Providence “Kristapor” Gomideh and member of the Armenian National Committee of RI. Armenian Weekly columnist Stepan Piligian will serve as moderator. The discussion will center on past and present Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Dr. Akçam is a historian and sociologist and one of the first Turkish intellectuals to acknowledge and openly discuss the Armenian Genocide. In 2002, Clark University established the first-ever endowed chair in Modern Armenian History and Armenian Genocide Studies through the generosity of the Kaloosdian and Mugar families, and in 2008, Akçam became the first Kaloosdian Mugar Professor. An internationally-recognized human rights activist, he has been an outspoken advocate of democracy and free expression since his student days at Middle Technical University in Ankara. Akçam received his doctorate in 1996 from the University of Hannover. He moved to the United States in 2000 and served as a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan for one year followed by visiting associate professor of history at the University of Minnesota from 2002-2008. Currently, he is the inaugural director of the Armenian Genocide Research Program housed at the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute.

Akçam also will serve as the guest speaker at the 108th commemoration event to be held on Sunday, April 30 at the Martyrs’ Monument at North Burial Ground in Providence at 12:30 p.m. A service in remembrance of the Holy Martyrs will be held with the participation of clergy and deacons from Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Church. In the event of rain, services will be held in the sanctuary of Sts. Vartanantz Church. All are welcome to attend both events.