(Syuzanna Petrosyan, Neon Tommy)

The genocide resulted in the creation of the Armenian diaspora. It began on April 24, 1915 and resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians. Turkey denies that the events constituted genocide.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Armenian communities in the world.

Students, faculty, and staff stopped by Tommy Trojan to hear live music and learn how the genocide has affected and continues to impact students at USC and in the community.

The event began with performances by VIZA, Armenian Public Radio and R-Mean.

VIZA is a group under Serj Tankien's label. Tankien is best known as the frontman for grammy award winning band, System Of A Down; an Armenian-American band that dedicates songs to those who perished in the Armenian Genocide.

Following the performances, Stephen Smith, UNESCO Chair on Genocide Education and Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation, spoke briefly about the  impact of denial.

"When the killing stops, the genocide is not over, genocide reaches through generations," Smith said. "Since 1915, the act of genocide denial of Armenians is till part of the genocide of Armenians."

Smith highlighted the importance of genocide education and USC's commitment to raise awareness about the genocide. He stressed that, "knowledge is part of ending denial.

Last week, the Armenian Film Foundation delivered 400 testimonies of Armenian Genocide survivors to the USC Shoah Foundation, where they will be indexed, and incorporated into the visual history archive.

"This campus, USC Shoah Foundation, and the USC Armenian Institute are committed to ensure that the survivor's stories are told not only here at USC but everywhere around the world," he added. 

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Reach Executive Producer Syuzanna Petrosyan here. Follow her on Twitter.