Winslow Martin’s speech: “You can’t deny it”
Note: Winslow Martin is an independent documentary photographer based in Arlington. He delivered this speech at “Action for Artsakh” in front of the JFK Federal Building in Boston, Massachusetts on 18 November 2023.
You Can’t Deny it! We must not deny the truth that the dictatorship in Baku carried out a genocide against the Armenians of Artsakh. The plan was always to wage war, terrify, attack again, and force everyone to leave—never a step or an interest or a plan to make agreements or protect human rights. On the contrary, Aliyev’s aggression and barbarism had its way, while the world largely watched. We can’t pretend that they were not warned and knew full well what was going on.
I was in Armenia when Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh militarily, after 7 months of an inhumane blockade, creating unimaginable hardships and confirming that there were no protections for Armenians in Artsakh. They were forced out. There were no peacekeepers, only aggressors and enablers. Same difference.
I was in Kornidzor, at the border, as endless streams of vehicles packed with people and whatever possessions they could manage to bring came into Armenia. I was just kilometers away in Goris Center to witness and photograph the apocalyptic scene—the groupings of families with those possessions in piles of bags around them, outside, waiting to find out where they could go. In trauma. Lots of kids and enough hurting older people. Wondering where and how to eat, sleep, survive. I spent the next 4 or so weeks photographing and talking with refugee families in many locations. I heard about their losses, fears, and anger. The terror. Their bravery.
A lot was very quickly figured out. I marveled at the incredible skill, efficiency, and caring which the nation of Armenia put in action to provide for 100,000 Armenians forced from Artsakh. There are no tents or homeless. Volunteerism is at a high.
Individuals, families, and municipalities are doing so much. The big welcome and coming together of Armenia for the refugees is giving amazing results and is a big hope. One big Armenian family. There is some light in the hope that refugees, as long as they can still not go back, will become a vital part of the future in Armenia. Make a home. Raise a family. Find a job. Educate the kids. Go back stronger.
I saw sometimes this hope in the lostness, but in every case I saw the face of immense struggle. The pressures for daily and future needs seem daunting and bottomless. What I heard were the tragedies of genocide. That truth. You can’t deny it.
Armenia cannot alone insure peace and stability in the region. Today, the border of the Republic itself is not safe. The free, independent democratic nation continues to be threatened with military incursion by its autocratic neighbor. No nation born in and committed to freedom and justice in the world should let this stand. To ignore such crimes is to embolden this and other potential perpetrators of such crimes around the world.
I was in Armenia when Samantha Powers visited the border in Syunik. We need more than the thoughts and prayers which she offered. She knows too well that it takes bold, calculated action against the aggressor to have a chance of preventing a genocide in motion. Action. But our government, the West in general, did not go that route. They listened and talked but did not rise to the level of action demanded. We stood on the sidelines. The silence of inaction was deafening. It is well within the United States government’s knowhow and capabilities, it is their moral imperative and in our self interest to now take steps to protect the Republic of Armenia and the Armenians of Artsakh.
In 2021, months after the 2020 War, the United States officially recognized the 1915 Genocide as such. Now it is time to recognize what is happening in Artsakh and Armenia and do something about it. Now is the time and the chance, not tomorrow.
I am not a politician or any kind of expert. Important measures to take are well spelled out on the banners for this gathering and in what others have said.
To simply repeat:
- Ongoing and robust humanitarian aid assistance for deported Armenians
- Pressuring allies to stop selling weapons of war to Azerbaijan
- Cutting all assistance to Azerbaijan and imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan
- Accountability of war crimes along with a release of all hostages and POWs in Baku
- Participation in international peace monitoring—Armenia needs both international assurances and sufficient protections to maintain its territorial integrity in the face of a clear aggressor.
