ACR 45, as amended, Grove. Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933.
This measure would remember and honor the millions of victims of the man-made Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known as “Holodomor,” and their descendants who are living throughout California. The measure would also designate November 26, 2016, as Holodomor Remembrance Day.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, The Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known as
2“Holodomor,” was a man-made famine that caused the deaths of
3at least five million innocent men, women, and children in Ukraine,
4resulting in an annihilation of an estimated 25 percent of the rural
5population of that country, one of the most productive agricultural
6areas of the Soviet Union; and
P2 1WHEREAS, This man-made famine also resulted in the deaths
2of an estimated one to two million people in regions outside
3Ukraine, mostly in the largely ethnic Ukrainian North Caucasus
4territory; and
5WHEREAS, These millions of people were starved to death by
6forced agricultural collectivization and grain seizures by the Soviet
7Union; and
8WHEREAS, Western observers and scholars who accurately
9reported on the existence of the famine as it was occurring were
10subjected to disparagement and criticism for their reporting; and
11WHEREAS, The Soviet Union and many scholars in the West
12denied the existence of the famine until the collapse of the Soviet
13Union in 1991 when Soviet Union archives became accessible,
14thereby making the documentation of the premeditated nature of
15the famine and its harsh enforcement possible; and
16WHEREAS, The final report of the U.S. Commission on the
17Ukraine Famine, established on December 13, 1985, concluded
18that the victims were “starved to death in a man-madebegin delete famine;”end delete
19begin insert famine”;end insert and
20WHEREAS, Although the famine was one of the greatest losses
21of human life in the 20th century, its occurrence remains
22insufficiently known in the United States and throughout the world;
23and
24WHEREAS, The official recognition of the famine by the
25government of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
26represents a significant step in the reestablishment of Ukraine’s
27national identity and the advancement of efforts to establish a
28democratic and free Ukraine that is fully integrated into the
29Western community of nations; and
30WHEREAS, Whether Ukrainian immigrants were fleeing
31political oppression or religious persecution to pursue better lives
32for themselves and their families, the desire to live in peace and
33enjoy liberty was so valued that it drew generations of Ukrainian
34immigrants to the United States and California in an effort to
35rebuild their lives; and
36WHEREAS, California is now home to the third largest
37Ukrainian-American population in the United States, and
38Ukrainians living in California have enriched our state through
39their leadership and contributions inbegin delete business, agriculture,end delete
40begin insert agriculture, business,end insert academia, government, and the arts; and
P3 1WHEREAS, In August 2015, a memorial to the millions who
2perished in the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known as
3“Holodomor,” was erected in the United States capital, and the
4dedication ceremony took place on November 7, 2015; now,
5therefore, be it
6Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
7thereof concurring, That the millions of victims of the man-made
8Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known as “Holodomor,” and
9their descendants living throughout California should be solemnly
10remembered and honored; and be it further
11Resolved, That the Legislature designates November 26, 2016,
12as Holodomor Remembrance Day in California and encourages
13individual citizens, educators, businesses, groups, organizations,
14and public institutions to observe Holodomor Remembrance Day
15with appropriate activities designed to honor the victims and
16educate Californians about this tragedy; and be it further
17Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
18of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
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