April 24, 2005

Proclamation

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Christian Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

Whereas, the unfolding Armenian Genocide was widely reported in Minneapolis and Minnesota newspapers of the day; and Minnesotans played a leading role in international relief efforts; and

Whereas, the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by fifteen countries, the European Parliament, and the United Nations; by Presidents Reagan, G. H. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush; by three-quarters of the U.S. States, including Minnesota; and by the Mayors of Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, and Saint Paul; and

Whereas, since 1899 Armenian-Americans of Minnesota have made substantial contributions in arts and sciences, commerce, community service, and government, notably the 2004 incorporation of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, on this 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

Now, therefore, I, R. T. Rybak, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby proclaim April 24 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS