Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

California State Senate UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES Joint Resolution 5 Designating April 24 as "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"
by MaryAlice Kaloostian, March 22, 2001
Posted: Friday, March 30, 2001 02:42 am CST

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: MaryAlice Kaloostian
March 22, 2001 (559) 253-7122

(Fresno, CA)--Senator Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) presented Senate Joint Resolution 5 today to the full Senate. SJR 5, which designates April 24 as the "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide," received unanimous support from the members of the California State Senate. The joint resolution memorializes the United States Congress to also commemorate the genocidal acts committed against the Armenian people at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Over the years, California has recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 when nearly 1.5 million men, women, and children were systematically tortured and murdered. The difference this year was the registered opposition and testimony opposing this resolution.

"This is the first step in helping families of Armenian descent know that the world will not forget. As was recognized by Senators - both Republican and Democrat, despite highly organized efforts to deny and rewrite history, the California State Senate acknowledges the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23," said Senator Poochigian.

California is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States. The Armenian citizens have enriched our state through leadership in many fields and are proud, patriotic practitioners of American citizenship. By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide.

"I am pleased that California has a long-standing record of commemorating the Armenian Genocide. To categorically deny what the world clearly knows to be true perpetuates the pain and makes reconciliation more difficult, yet it is commemorations such as this that offer encouragement," said Senator Poochigian.

April 24 is the date on which Armenians around the world commemorate the Genocide in recognition of the day in 1915 when a group of Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested and murdered. During the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, nearly 1.5 million men, women, and children were systematically tortured and brutally murdered at the hands of the Turkish rulers. The Armenian Genocide became the world's standard of atrocity until World War II. That is when Adolph Hitler gave reassurance to his followers about his Holocaust plans when he said, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

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