First monument to victims of the Srebrenica genocide and Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled in Florida

(Patria) - July 15, 2023, will go down in the history of Jacksonville, Florida, USA, and the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora. Organized by the Bosniak Islamic Community of Jacksonville and under the patronage of numerous friends of truth and justice, the first monument in Florida to the victims of the greatest crime after the Holocaust in Europe, the Srebrenica genocide, was unveiled.

On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Jacksonville, Florida, unveiled a memorial to commemorate the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the presence of officials from the city of Jacksonville, which this year for the first time adopted a proclamation declaring July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the genocide, and in the presence of representatives of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks of North America, and many other friends of truth and justice. It is particularly significant that a large number of young people attended this important, historic event.

As part of the memorial unveiling program, guests addressed the attendees: Academician Dr. Emir Ramić, director of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada; Dr. Parvez Ahmed, on behalf of the Mayor of Jacksonville and envoy of the Mufti of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks of North America; and secretary Mirnes Lemeš.

In addition to clear messages regarding the preservation and strengthening of the culture of remembrance of the aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the preservation and strengthening of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were conveyed to those present, special emotions were stirred by the reading of the Proclamation of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, in which July 11 is declared the Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide. The proclamation was read on behalf of Mayor Deegan by her envoy Dr. Parvez Ahmed.

We have gained another gathering place for friends of truth, justice, and the culture of remembrance in North America. We have received a memorial that will best spread the important mission of internationalizing our Bosnian culture of remembrance of the genocide in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have gained a gathering place for American and Canadian citizens, who are increasingly accepting and publicly presenting judicial, scientific, and historical facts about the aggression and genocide. We have gained a place for the joint gathering of Bosnian-Herzegovinian youth not only in Florida but throughout America.

The monument in Jacksonville remains a permanent testament that the genocide in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be remembered in the name of truth and justice, without which there is no better future for humanity and civilization.

This memorial testifies that progress cannot be dug from the garbage dump of history if Bosnian truth and justice lose, if hatred defeats love, if hope loses to despair," stated the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada.