Canadian human rights event remembers the Armenian genocide Special

Toronto - Despite rain and chilly weather, Torontonians gathered at the city's Yonge-Dundas Square to send their message that they will say no to genocide, war crimes, racism and violations of human rights.

The current international state of affairs does not look promising for human rights advocates. There are wars in Afghanistan and Iraq where hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed; numerous dictators oppress their citizens throughout the African continent, there are a number of slave labor issues in eastern Asian nations and there are only two classes in most South American countries. At the Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto, the Armenian Youth of Toronto (AYT) organization hosted a free rock concert called United We Rock!, which promoted human rights throughout the globe. The concert featured a large number of up and coming artists and performers, including Aramik, The Transparent, Birds of Wales, Humble the Poet, One Fell Swoop and others.

Andrew Moran

At the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto on Saturday, Torontonians gathered to celebrate human rights and to say no to genocide, war and violations of human rights.

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The purpose of the concert was to bring awareness and attention to international human rights that involve war crimes, genocide, racism and other violations of human rights. The event also commemorated the 95th anniversary of the Armenian genocide where hundreds of thousands Armenians were butchered or died of starvation, exhaustion or epidemics. “Ultimately, our goal is to facilitate the interaction among the thinkers and leaders of social justice in our community. Human rights issues are interrelated and there is a phenomenal potential for synergy, no one should have to go through it alone, which is why United We Rock! is about giving each cause the audience it deserves,” said AYT Chairperson Ara Hasserjian in a press release. During the seven-hour event, there were booths and vendors providing information to attendees on the number of charitable organizations that fight for the rights of others, including Oxfam Canada, STAND Canada, Genocide Watch & Cambodian Genocide Project, International Institute for Genocide & Human Rights Studies and others.

Andrew Moran

At the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto on Saturday, Torontonians gathered to celebrate human rights and to say no to genocide, war and violations of human rights.

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