The commemoration, which was the second official Kwibuka event organized in Tucson, brought together survivors, Rwandans living in Arizona, local leaders, law enforcement officials, and friends of Rwanda to honor more than one million lives lost during the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

During the event, participants lit the Flame of Hope, symbolizing resilience, remembrance, and the determination to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

One of the key testimonies was delivered by genocide survivor Nzongera Ezechiel Janvier, who survived the killings in the former Rwamatamu area of Kibuye Prefecture.

Speaking emotionally about the meaning of remembrance, Janvier said that commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi is not only about remembering the events of 1994, but also reflecting on the painful history of discrimination and persecution that existed for decades before the genocide.

“Our parents lived through hatred and division, and we too experienced that painful history. But today, we have hope that this will not be the legacy passed on to our children because Rwanda now has good leadership that rebuilt unity and dignity,” he said.

He called on Rwandans everywhere to preserve the values of unity, love, and reconciliation that have been promoted in post-genocide Rwanda.

“The unity we have been taught and the love we have been encouraged to embrace must continue guiding us. We must stand together and continue saying: Never Again,” he added.

The event was also attended by senior leaders from Pima County and the City of Tucson, including local police leadership, who expressed solidarity with survivors and the Rwandan community.

Speaking during the commemoration, Jennifer Ellen described Kwibuka as “a powerful reminder that memory is not passive, but an active responsibility.”

“Today we remember more than one million Tutsi murdered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. We gather to honor the lives lost and stand with survivors,” she said.

Jennifer Ellen emphasized that remembrance must go hand in hand with responsibility, stressing that preventing genocide and fighting hatred is not only the responsibility of governments, but also of the international community as a whole.

Leaders of the Rwandan Community in Tucson thanked local authorities for standing with them and supporting efforts to establish a memorial site in Tucson where future commemorations and remembrance activities can be held.

The event also featured a presentation by Paul Félix Masengesho, who spoke about how the Genocide against the Tutsi was planned and executed, while encouraging participants to continue educating younger generations about the dangers of genocide ideology and divisionism.

The commemoration concluded with prayers, moments of silence, and a renewed commitment from participants to continue preserving the truth about the Genocide against the Tutsi and promoting peace, unity, and humanity.