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 failure of the domestic and international authorities to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide laid the groundwork for similar genocides since 1915; and

Whereas, the Armenian-American community has made substantial contributions to our City and State since 1899; and

Whereas, on the 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, Randy C. Kelly, Mayor of the City of Saint Paul, do hereby proclaim Sunday, April 24, 2005, to be

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

in the City of Saint Paul.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Saint Paul to be affixed this Twenty-fourth Day of April in the Year Two Thousand Five.

[Signed: Randy C. Kelly]

Randy C. Kelly, Mayor