April 17, 2007

STATE OF OHIO
Executive Department

Columbus
In Recognition of
April 24, 2007
For the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1923

Today, I ask Ohioans to honor those who died in the Armenian Genocide, conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire, by recognizing their suffering resulting from the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians. Of these 1.5 million men, women, and children were killed and one-half million were expelled from their homes. These acts succeeded in the elimination of a more than 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historical homeland.

All Ohioans embrace freedom, justice and human dignity. We have a collective responsibility to uphold these values and to focus the world's attention on human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.

Armenian-American throughout Ohio are joined by all those devoted to ending the cycle of crimes against humanity.

Signed
Ted Strickland
Governor