The initiative was spearheaded by the Pontian Coordinating Committee for the Commemoration of the Greek Genocide and Pontian associations in Melbourne.
In a facebook post, the Greek Community of Melbourne paid tribute to “those who lost their lives in the forced marches, executions and systemic starvations perpetuated by the Ottoman Empire on its then citizens.”
The red colour of the lighting up project is symbolic of the over 350,000 lives lost by Pontian Greeks in the orchestrated killings of Christian Ottoman populations of Anatolia in the early 20th century.
The Hellenic Parliament also lit up on Wednesday with a message for the Greek Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day.
In an announcement the Parliament stated it is undertaking this symbolic act, in support of the ongoing demand for historical restitution.
The Greek parliament officially recognised the Pontian Genocide in 1994 and unanimously established May 19 as remembrance day in Greece of the genocide.
