Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

California Democratic Party Endorses US Recognition of Armenian Genocide
by Armenian News Network / Groong - April 4, 2001
Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 02:41 am CST

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - The California Democratic Party, the largest state political party in the United States, has formally adopted a resolution which Paul Krekorian, introduced, calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

At the Party's annual statewide convention in Anaheim on April 1, the resolution was approved with a unanimous voice vote by the delegates. The resolution states that the Democratic Party "joins ArmenianAmericans, the international community and all people who care about justice in their remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and their desire to ensure that the crime of genocide must never be legitimized or forgotten, wherever and whenever it occurs."

The resolution further calls upon Congress and the President "to recognize that the horrific crimes against humanity committed by the Ottoman government from 1915 to 1923 must accurately and unequivocally be characterized as genocide."

Krekorian, who ran for the California State Assembly in the 43rd Assembly District in the March 2000 primary, introduced the resolution and argued in its favor. Democratic State Central Committee members Areen Ibranossian, Ardashes Kassakhian and Angela Pinto provided party leaders with extensive written background information and historical analysis on the Genocide.

At its meeting on March 30, the Democratic Party's Resolutions Committee approved the Genocide Resolution, along with over 35 other resolutions dealing with a wide range of issues affecting important Democratic constituencies. Despite the wide range of issues represented in the resolutions, the Committee picked the Armenian Genocide Resolution as was one of its six highest priority items, to be sent on to the full convention for a vote by all of the delegates on Sunday, April 1. It was, therefore, submitted to the delegates and enthusiastically approved.

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) had been the first member of Congress to endorse the Democratic Party resolution. Congressman Schiff, a member of the House International Relations Committee, has pledged to play a key leadership role in pushing Congress to act on a genocide bill this term. "The Armenian Genocide Resolution put forth by Paul Krekorian has my wholehearted support," said Congressman Schiff. "Unequivocal support of this resolution will send a strong message to the deniers that we in California cannot and will not condone the denial and revisionism of the facts of the Armenian Genocide," said the Congressman.

Many other important Democratic elected officials announced their support of the Party's resolution, including Congressman Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills); Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana); Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks); State Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco); Speaker of the State Assembly Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys); Senators Jack Scott (D-Pasadena), Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), and Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles); and Assembly Members Thomas Calderon (D-Montebello), Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), Carol Liu (D-Pasadena), George Nakano (D-Torrance), and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto).

A copy of the resolution is provided below:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

REGARDING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

(Adopted by the California Democratic Party in Convention at Anaheim, 4/1/01)

WHEREAS, in 1915 the Ottoman Turkish government initiated a prolonged and brutal campaign of terror and mass execution that caused the deaths of more than 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian heritage from 1915 to 1923, and the forced deportation of hundreds of thousands of survivors, many of whom settled in California; and

WHEREAS, despite the overwhelming proof that this attempted annihilation of the Armenian people was the result of governmental policy and genocidal intent, the Republic of Turkey has persisted to this day in denying that the Armenian Genocide occurred, thereby encouraging the commission of genocide and "ethnic cleansing" by others throughout the 20th Century; and

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party has a proud and long tradition of fighting for human rights and justice, and of speaking out against bigotry, racism and inhumanity throughout the world;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of California joins Armenian-Americans, the international community and all people who care about justice in their remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and their desire to ensure that the crime of genocide must never be legitimized or forgotten, wherever and whenever it occurs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of California calls upon the United States Congress and the President of the United States to recognize that the horrific crimes against humanity committed by the Ottoman government from 1915 to 1923 must accurately and unequivocally be characterized as genocide.

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