99 - all you should know about the Genocide April, 2014 | Page 36

march
with
torches
For many years, a march with torches towards
the Tsitsernakaberd memorial monument has
been organized on the eve of April 24, with
the torches being a symbol of the struggle and
resulting victory. The first march was organized
in 1999 and had only 200-300 participants. The
number of people marching in recent years has
reached 10-12,000. On 23 April 2015, the eve of
the 100 th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
the number of marchers exceeded 50,000.
The march was first organized by the ARF Nikol
Aghbalyan Student Union, but the event lost its
political affiliation over the years. The banner
of “Condemnation, Recognition, Reparation”
now unites young and old, irrespective of their
political views or party membership.
The march traditionally ends at around 11 pm or
midnight. It is followed by a night of vigil. The
participants form a ring near the memorial and
light a fire, trying to make their voice of dissent
heard to Turkey and the whole world.
Marches with torches are also organized in the
cities of the Diaspora as well as other locations in
Armenia such as Ijevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Sissian,
Kapan and so on.