Echoes of 1915: Why the Armenian Genocide Still Matters Today

I am a descendant of a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. I grew up surrounded by fragments of this history through my grandparents’ stories and documentaries about survival, loss, and resilience. My great-grandparents survived so that I could be here today, carrying forward the life, memory, and identity they nearly lost. 

Every year on April 24, Armenians worldwide mourn the 1.5 million people who were killed, displaced, and erased from their ancestral homeland. This day is not only about mourning loss. It is also a reminder of the strength of a nation that, despite attempts to silence it, continues to carry its history, culture, and identity with pride.

The Armenian Genocide refers to the systematic killing and forced deportation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed, and hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes through mass violence and death marches into the Syrian desert. Entire communities were destroyed, and survivors were scattered across the world, forming a global Armenian diaspora that continues to preserve cultural memory across generations.

Today, the genocide is widely documented and recognized by many historians and countries. However, some, including the Republic of Turkey, continue to reject the term “genocide.” This ongoing denial makes remembrance and education especially important, as recognition of history is essential in preventing future atrocities.

A genocide left unpunished is a genocide at risk of being repeated. When justice is denied, and truth is obscured, history does not remain in the past, but it continues into the present. For many Armenians, this is not distant history. In 2023, over 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from their homes in Artsakh following months of blockade, violence, and a humanitarian crisis. For many, it felt like an echo of the displacement their great-grandparents once survived. Families were once again separated from their ancestral lands, carrying forward a history of loss and resilience.

Remembering April 24 is not only about honoring those who were lost in 1915. It is also about recognizing ongoing struggles, standing against denial, and reaffirming the responsibility to speak out against injustice wherever it occurs. By learning and teaching others, we ensure that these histories are not forgotten, and that “never again” is not just a phrase we repeat, but a responsibility we uphold.