Bill Text: CA SR83 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Resolution 83

Bill Title: Relative to the Acknowledgment of the Tragedy of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-3)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-22 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 3686.) [SR83 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SR83-Enrolled.html

Enrolled April 23, 2024

Passed IN Senate April 22, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution

No. 83

Introduced by Senators Wilk and Portantino
(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Dahle, Durazo, Jones, Menjivar, and Stern)

April 01, 2024

Relative to the Acknowledgment of the Tragedy of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SR 83, Wilk.

WHEREAS, More than 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children were systematically exterminated in an effort to annihilate the Armenian nation in the first genocide of modern times, thousands of surviving Armenian women and children were forcibly converted and Islamized, and hundreds of thousands more were subjected to ethnic cleansing during the period of the modern Republic of Turkey from 1924 to 1937; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian population, along with other Christians in the Ottoman Empire, endured mass killings and atrocities, constituting severe violations of human rights; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Azerbaijan also committed massacres in various regions between 1918 and 1920; and

WHEREAS, These crimes resulted in the permanent displacement of Armenians and other targeted communities from their historic homelands, leading to the usurpation of churches, cultural institutions, and property; and

WHEREAS, Armenians, with a rich history of over four millennia in Asia Minor and the Caucasus, faced persecution and brutality under Turkish rulers; and

WHEREAS, Political leaders in the Ottoman Empire pursued a pan-Turkic agenda, leading to the massacres of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and other minorities; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian nation survived despite the attempts at annihilation, including the Hamidian massacres, the Adana massacre, and the systematic genocide from 1915 to 1919; and

WHEREAS, The international community, including the United States, officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide, and it is crucial to continue educating people about these historical events; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief played a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance to survivors and rescuing over 1,000,000 refugees between 1915 and 1930; and

WHEREAS, Racially motivated pogroms targeted the Armenian population in Soviet Azerbaijan from 1988 to 1990; and

WHEREAS, The destruction of churches and cultural heritage in Nakhichevan between 1997 and 2006 erased the indigenous Armenian presence; and

WHEREAS, The Republics of Armenia and Artsakh are symbols of freedom, liberty, and democracy in the region; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Turkey, despite evidence and historical truth, denies the Armenian Genocide, perpetuating the suffering of survivors and depriving the Armenian nation of justice; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Armenian American population in the United States, contributing significantly to various fields; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the Armenian Genocide is crucial for preserving cultural and historic memory and preventing similar atrocities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate designates the year 2024 as the “State of California Year of Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923” to ensure proper commemoration and education through statewide events; and be it further

Resolved, That the month of April 2024 is designated as the “State of California Month of Commemoration of the 109th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate commends educators for their efforts in teaching about human rights and genocide and encourages continued enhancement of these educational initiatives; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate acknowledges the exceptional service of Near East Relief and pledges collaboration with community groups for educational and cultural events; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate deplores ongoing efforts to deny the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate calls upon the President and Congress of the United States to reaffirm the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate calls on the President to work toward equitable Armenian-Turkish relations and emphasizes the importance of religious freedom and the return of historical properties; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate urges the United States government to halt military assistance to Azerbaijan, emphasizing the rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to relevant officials and authorities, including the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Majority Leader of the Senate, California Governor, Members of Congress, California State Legislature, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.