Yonkers, New York (AINA) -- The Assyrian American Association of Yonkers, in conjunction with the Museum of Human Rights Freedom and Tolerance, will present an exhibition on the massacre of Assyrians in Iraq. The exhibit is titled From A Crime Without A Name To Genocide: The Simmele Massacre of Assyrians, Iraq, August 1933. The ceremony will open at 5 PM. Speakers include:

• Fred Sarkiso, President of the Yonkers Assyrian American Association
• Honorable Michael Spano, Mayor of the City of Yonkers
• Honorable Liam McLaughlin, Yonkers City Council President
• Honorable Michael Sabatino, Yonkers City Council Minority Leader
• Keynote presentation by Igor Kotler, Curator of the Museum of Human Rights Freedom and Tolerance
• Special presentation by Michel Shamoon Pour of Binghamton University

The Simmele Massacre was perpetrated by the Iraqi army and Kurdish and irregulars between August 7 and 11 in 1933. 3000 Assyrian men, women and children were massacred after they had been disarmed by the Iraqi army.

The Simmele Massacre inspired Raphael Lemkin to coin the word 'genocide' (AINA 2007-01-15).

The exhibit is located at 82 Ludlow Street, Yonkers, New York 10705. The exhibit will remain open from Friday, November 21st to Wednesday, November 26th. The hours are: November 22-23: 12-5 PM, November 24-26: 5-8 PM.