VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse celebrates World Refugee Day with flag-raising ceremony
Kobe Scales: Earlier today, Syracuse honored World Refugee Day. It’s a day to recognize people who had to leave their countries to find safety. Our reporter, Rosie Rapisarda, is live at city hall, where a flag-raising ceremony took place. Rosie?
Rosie Rapisarda: Thanks, Kobe and Jack. Lots of people gathered here today on the steps of city hall. Refugees, city leaders, and advocates came together to raise the United Nations flag. The ceremony was part of Syracuse’s ongoing recognition of World Refugee Day. Syracuse is home to over 10,000 refugees from many countries, according to CNY Vitals.
Mohamed Theim: What shape this country is immigrants and refugees, and what makes America exceptional is that we have immigrants and refugees coming from all corners of the world to embrace the American dream, but at the same time to contribute to our socio-economic landscape.”
Rapisarda: Every year on June 20th, the world celebrates World Refugee Day.
Thiem: We are not only celebrating our refugee community or immigrants, we are celebrating Syracuse as a whole.
Rapisarda: World Refugee Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 2001. Syracuse has been celebrating it for more than ten years.
Geneve: Together, we find renewed purpose in our mission to welcome refugees. Together, we continue to wait by the door, ready to say welcome home. We have been waiting for you.
Rapisarda: City leaders also shared remarks.
Ben Walsh: People that come to Syracuse from all different parts of the world know that not only are they welcome, but we are a better city because of them.
Rapisarda: Today’s flag-raising was one of two events honoring World Refugee Day in Syracuse. The next is a citywide festival happening later this month. The World Refugee Festival kicks off next Saturday at Grant Middle School. The event will celebrate culture with food, music, and live performances. reporting live from city hall, I’m Rosie Rapisarda, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)— Refugees, immigrants and community members gathered Friday on the front steps of Syracuse City Hall to celebrate World Refugee Day.
The United Nations flag was raised during the ceremony.
“World Refugee Day, to me, means community cohesion… creating a bridge between host communities and newcomers to understand that our community is more prosperous when we look at each other as human beings and recognize our shared humanity, “said Mohamed Thiem, co-chair of Syracuse World Refugee Day 2025.
World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations in 2001. It is observed annually on June 20 to recognize refugees around the globe who have been forced to flee their home countries due to conflict, persecution, or violence.
The flag-raising outside city hall has become an annual tradition in Syracuse.
Syracuse has recognized World Refugee Day for more than a decade. According to data from CNY Vitals, Onondaga County is home to over 10,000 refugees.
“What shapes this country is immigrants and refugees, and what makes America exceptional is that we have immigrants and refugees coming from all corners of the world to embrace the American dream,” said Thiem.
Organizers say the event is intended to promote awareness and recognize the presence and contributions of refugees and immigrants in the local community.
“People who come to Syracuse from all different parts of the world know that not only are they welcome, but we are a better city because of them,” said Ben Walsh, mayor of Syracuse.
The celebration continues next week with the World Refugee Festival on Saturday, June 28, from noon to 3 p.m. at Grant Middle School. The event is scheduled to include food, music and cultural performances.