St. Louis Srebrenica Remembrance Coalition marks 30 years since BiH genocide

The first of these events, “Why Memory Matters: The Case of the Bosnian Genocide,” took place on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Professor David Pettigrew presented a keynote address for the audience, followed by personal and painful memories of survival that were shared by Elvir Ahmetović and Hasan Hasanović. The presentations were followed by questions from the audience, moderated by Patrick McCarthy, who coordinated the gathering.

Elvir and Hasan shared heartbreaking memories of enduring starvation, shelling and gunfire, and of losing members of their family. Both reflected on the bitter solace they draw from being able to tell their stories to keep the memory of their loved ones alive. Those in attendance at the museum were inspired by their courage. Elvir reflected on the importance of sharing his story in the Holocaust Museum, a venue where the memory of genocide is sacred.

Professor Pettigrew discussed the “Greater Serbia” and “Greater Croatia” nationalist ideologies that led to aggression and war crimes in Bosnia, which culminated in the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995. He detailed the failure of UN Dutchbat forces to protect Srebrenica, a failure and betrayal that led to execution sites, mass graves, and convictions for Genocide.

Professor Pettigrew alerted the audience to the fact that the authorities in Republika Srpska have forbidden the installation of memorials at Kravica warehouse, Pilica Cultural Center, and other atrocity sites that were part of the Srebrenica Genocide. He asked those in attendance to dedicate themselves to raising awareness about the truth about the Srebrenica Genocide and to advocating for the right to memorialization so that the victims will not be forgotten and the atrocities will not be repeated. Dr. Pettigrew noted the significance of gathering on April 6, the day marking the start of the siege of Sarajevo.

The Srebrenica Remembrance Coalition in St. Louis is grateful to the leadership of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum for hosting the program at the museum in collaboration with the Bosnian community in St. Louis.