Rhode Island State Senate Resolution

April 12, 2006

2006 -- S 3011

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LC02927
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2006

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SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2006 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Issa, Raptakis, Walaska, and P Fogarty

Date Introduced: April 12, 2006

Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

WHEREAS, One and one half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people." The genocide of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, works of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspaper accounts, in the New York Times, and other publications, carried headlines such as "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile": and

WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the period 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as a testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help all peoples understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our communities; and

WHEREAS, In order to prevent similar atrocities in the future, resident of Rhode Island must be highly sensitive to the need for remembrance and open condemnation of the crimes committed against any culture or people; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2006 as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2006 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY' TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

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LC02927
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[In the Senate read and passed April 12, 2006 (signed) Reading Clerk]