Local Yazidis mark four years of ISIS persecution

Lincoln is believed to have the largest Yazidi population in the country..

On Friday, the Yazidi group Yazda held a memorial event to honor victims and survivors of Yazidi persecution by ISIS.

Friday marked four years since the terrorist group marched into the Sinjar region of Iraq and began a campaign the United Nations regards as genocide.

"In the first hour, they killed thousands and they enslaved thousands," said Vice President Hadi Pir.  "And the rest of the Yazidis, they fled."

They say more than 3,000 Yazidi women remain in ISIS captivity, being bought and sold as sex slaves.

The event included lighting candles, a moment of silence and a performance portraying their peoples’ treatment by ISIS.

Yazda media director Saad Murad was in was living in Iraq at the time and recalled what he saw.

"They were killing people, attacking the Yazidi community," Murad said.  "And they took Yazidi women, children."

He said his family is still in Iraq and that ISIS killed his younger brother and took his cousin captive.

Fresh off his trip to Iraq, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry made an appearance.

"I’m very proud of…how they continue to rightfully tell their story and cry out for justice and at the same time, be wonderful community partners here in Lincoln," Fortenberry said.

But organizers said the event also allows them to help each other heal.

"The community can come together and kind of share the suffering and share this moment," Pir said.  "And also invite all our friends around the world to share and help us."

Members of Yazda said their peoples’ plight is ongoing and they want the U.S. to provide security and help Yazidis rebuild and recover.