110th Armenian Genocide Commemoration Honors Past, Fights for Artsakh’s Future: ‘Stop Crying for Artsakh, Act for Artsakh’
- The Armenian Report Team
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
Updated: May 4
Waving Armenian and Artsakh flags high, and holding signs demanding justice, Armenian youth and community members flooded Broadway and Times Square on Sunday, April 27, 2025. It was a powerful collision of past and present, as the crowd called for recognition of the Armenian Genocide — and for action on the ongoing injustices against the Armenians of Artsakh.
Leading the march were His Grace Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Their leadership symbolized the unity and determination of the Armenian people, as the 110th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide officially began in Times Square. Sponsored by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan and backed by key Armenian organizations, the event featured unforgettable speeches and musical performances that spoke straight to the heart.
New York’s Senior Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a longtime supporter of the Armenian community, once again stood with Armenians.
“The proud and heroic Armenian people stand so tall today, a little more than a century after the cruel Ottoman Empire waged a campaign of genocide against your ancestors,” Schumer said, reflecting on the importance of honoring Armenian history and culture.
Schumer, who has spoken many times about the loss of his own relatives during the Holocaust, praised the Armenian people's commitment to remembrance. “I will make sure the injustices done to you by the Turks are never forgotten,” he said. “Your presence honors the memory of your ancestors whose lives were brutally cut short.”
He didn’t stop there — addressing today’s realities, Schumer called out the ethnic cleansing in Artsakh and pledged to “continue speaking out against human rights abuses by the Azeri government.”
Schumer also honored the memory of Hirant Gulian and Sam Azadian, founders of the Times Square Commemoration, and closed his remarks in Armenian, standing strong with the community.
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), another ally, addressed the genocide against the Armenians of Artsakh and shared updates on Congressional efforts to ensure the right of return for those displaced.
“We are working with the Armenian Caucus to make sure Armenia is strong, and to recognize that what happened in Artsakh was a form of ethnic cleansing and genocide,” Rep. Pallone said. “We will continue to be vigilant and strong.”
Photographer Scout Tufankjian delivered one of the day's most emotional messages. Having worked with young Artsakhsis before the war and documenting their lives during the conflict, she witnessed the new Armenian tragedy firsthand.
“We have lost Hajin and Gurun and Kharpert, and now history has repeated itself,” Tufankjian said. “Once again Armenians have been forced to flee their homeland of millennia and make the unimaginable choice between staying and dying, or leaving with the hope to live.”
Tufankjian reminded the crowd that today's loss isn’t just history — it’s happening now. “We are no longer talking about the losses of our grandparents and great-grandparents — we are talking about our sons, husbands, students, and cousins.”
She painted a devastating picture: families fleeing Artsakh with only what they could carry — a book, a lemon tree, a cat. “I met an 8-year-old boy displaced for the second time, and a woman born in 1920 in Martakert who is now a refugee,” she shared.
Still haunted by the images of young men buried in Yerablur instead of celebrating their birthdays at home, Tufankjian called for urgent action — financial, educational, trauma, and housing support — to help Artsakh Armenians rebuild.
“We have lost the land, and we might not ever get it back,” she said. “But we have not yet lost Artsakh’s people and her culture, and they need our support.”
Artsakh-native musician Valeri “Lyoka” Ghazaryan took the stage next, with original songs born from his own experience of displacement and survival.
Accompanied by fellow Artsakh native Nina Shahverdyan, Ghazaryan shared the spirit of survival through his songs, including “Tun Tareq” (“Take Me Home”), “Es Ter Kam” (“I Am Still Alive”), and “Hascen Im Nuyn A” (“My Address Is The Same”).
“We are here in the center of New York City and we choose to continue our fight and to continue to live,” Ghazaryan said. “Stop crying for Artsakh, and act for Artsakh.”
In a surprise appearance, Noubar Afeyan, philanthropist and Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, brought a message of resilience. He reflected on his youth in Beirut when he too marched for Genocide recognition, and he challenged the younger generation:
“Commit yourselves to doing this for the next 50 years, the way I have.”
Afeyan spoke about two Armenian heroes: Dr. Vartan Gregorian, who turned tragedy into humanitarianism, and Ruben Vardanyan — unjustly imprisoned in Baku — who put his life on the line for Artsakh.
“I wish all of you determination and willingness to carry the cross of being Armenian and being honest and truthful for the rest of the world to see,” Afeyan said.
Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan, Hunan Arshakian, delivered a powerful message about legacy and survival.
“When the world forgets, we remember. When others deny, we speak up. When history is erased, we write it again with the truth,” he said. He urged young Armenians to learn their history and to understand that they are the “torchbearers” now.
“We are living proof that they did not succeed in erasing us,” Arshakian declared.
Grand Chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan, Nancy Berberian Thompson, called for prayers for Artsakh and Armenia.
Quoting William Saroyan, she emphasized: “We are here, and we are alive.”
A statement from State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-NY) was also read at the Commemoration, reaffirming his support for Armenians and commitment to recognizing and remembering the Armenian Genocide. His annual resolution will be adopted on May 6 in Albany, and he invited the community to join him.
“Thank you to the incredibly strong Armenian-American community here in New York for your unwavering commitment,” his statement concluded.
The event opened and closed with spiritual blessings: an invocation from Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian and a benediction from Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, with prayers from Obed Bazikian and Rev. Fr. Richard Shackil.
Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School graduate Evelina Malkhasyan performed the American and Armenian national anthems, and Gomidas Choir member Nina Purut sang “God Bless America.”
Throughout the ceremony, members of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and Homenetmen Scouts stood tall with the flags of Armenia and Artsakh — a visual reminder of the strength of our people.
Earlier that morning, a special Badarak service was held at St. Vartan Cathedral in honor of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
The Knights and Daughters of Vartan have sponsored the Times Square Commemoration since 1985. This year’s event was co-chaired by Haig Gulian, Ari Minnetyan, and Christopher Artun.
Masters of Ceremonies Diran Jebejian (Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey), Chantelle Nasri (ANCA), and Nanor Hartounian (The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA) led the program. Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America, served as the event’s media spokesperson.
Co-sponsoring organizations included the Armenian Assembly of America, AGBU, ANCA, ADL-Ramgavar Party, Tekeyan Cultural Association, Armenian Bar Association, Armenian Missionary Association of America, and Armenian Council of America.
Participating organizations included the Armenian Network of America, Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen Scouts, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, AGBU Young Professionals, Armenian Students Association, Hamazkayin, and Armenian college clubs across the tri-state area.
110 years after the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people — from Yerevan to Artsakh to Times Square — stand united, resilient, and louder than ever.
Comments