Rwandans living in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky, and surrounding areas of the US gathered on June 10 to commemorate victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The commemoration started with a ‘Walk to Remember’, followed by a ceremony held in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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Speaking at the event, the President of the Association of Rwandans Living in the State of Tennessee in the United States, Bahati Kalisa, emphasised the importance of remembrance for honouring the victims of the Genocide, and offering comfort to the survivors, and reflecting upon their suffering, trauma, and loss.

"The sorrow, pain, and despair are still fresh for the survivors,” Bahati added, explaining how remembering the tragedy should be done without bitterness but with dignity, resilience, and a determination to move on as the only way to ensure that it never happens again.

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He also drew attention to the transformations Rwanda has undergone since the Genocide, moving from a failed state to a nation of hope, prosperity and equal opportunity for its people.

He cited the country’s stability, economic growth, rebuilt infrastructure, and availability of education, health, and basic social protection for every citizen.

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Additionally, the commemoration included a movie screening on the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi and public testimonies from survivors.

The ceremony also featured speeches from other speakers, including the President of the Rwandan Community in Kentucky, Serge Rwakineza, who underscored the importance of developing young people’s awareness of the country’s history to prevent future genocide.

"It is necessary to teach children about the history of our country so that it may never happen again. It’s up to parents to teach children what happened in our country, especially the youth in the diaspora when they go back to their motherland and visit memorial sites,” he added.

Participants were overall urged to denounce genocide perpetrators, racism, hatred, anti-Semitism, intolerance, and any form of discrimination to promote healing in Rwandan society for those in and outside the country.

The remembrance concluded with a minute of silence to honour the victims of the Genocide and their families.