BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 23|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 23
Author: Simitian (D), et al.
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE : 5-0, 7/11/12
AYES: Steinberg, Alquist, Dutton, De Le�n, Fuller
SUBJECT : Armenian Genocide: Day of remembrance
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution designate April 24, 2012, as
California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923." It requests the Congress and the President of
the United States to act likewise to commemorate the
Armenian Genocide.
ANALYSIS : In previous years April 24th has been
designated as the "California Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923" as follows:
SJR 26 (Simitian), Resolution Chapter8, Statutes of 2010
AJR 14 (Krekorian), Resolution Chapter 105, Statutes of
2009
SJR 24 (Simitian), Resolution Chapter 25, Statutes of 2008
AJR 15 (Krekorian), Resolution Chapter 27, Statutes of 2007
AJR 42 (Aghazarian), Resolution Chapter 47, Statutes of
2006
SJR 2 (Speier), Resolution Chapter 22, Statutes of 2005
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SJR 23
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2
AJR 73 (Simitian), Resolution Chapter 162, Statutes of 2004
SJR 1 (Poochigian), Resolution Chapter 18, Statutes of 2003
AJR 44 (Simitian), Resolution Chapter 39, Statutes of 2002
SJR 5 (Poochigian), Resolution Chapter 31, Statutes of 2001
SCR 62 (Poochigian), Resolution Chapter 60, Statutes of
2000
ACR 20 (Kaloogian), Resolution Chapter 21, Statutes of 1999
ACR 138 (Poochigian), Resolution Chapter 29, Statutes of
1998
ACR 51 (Kaloogian), Resolution Chapter 36, Statutes of 1997
According to the legislative findings contained in this
resolution, one and one-half million men, women, and
children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal
genocide perpetrated during the Ottoman Empire from
1915-1923. The Armenian Genocide and massacre of the
Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to
eliminate all traces of a thriving and nobel civilization
over 3,000 years old. To this day, revisionists still
inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events.
By consistently remembering and openly condemning the
atrocities committed against the Armenians, California
residents demonstrate their sensitivity to a need for
constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the
future.
Recognition of the ninety-seventh anniversary of this
genocide is crucial to preventing the repetition of future
genocides and educating people about the atrocities
connected to these tragic events. On this ninety-fifth
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, it is also
appropriate to remember, honor, and thank those righteous
ethnic Turks and Kurds who, often at risk to their own
live, lent aid, comfort, and assistance to ethnic Armenians
seeking to escape the genocide. Armenia is now a free and
independent republic, having embraced democracy following
the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
California is home to the largest population of Armenians
in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our
state through leadership in business, agriculture,
academia, medicine, government, and the arts, and they are
proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship.
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SJR 23
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3
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
OPPOSITION : (Verified 4/11/12)
Turkish Peace and Justice Committee of California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office
the reason for this resolution is the genocide of 1.5
million Armenians from 1915-1923 has yet to be recognized.
In order to appropriately learn from and guard against ever
having similar events in the future, it is imperative that
recognition occur.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : Opponents state, "When the
Ottoman Empire started falling apart, many countries gained
their independence. Armenians saw this as an opportunity
to establish their own independent country. They armed
themselves with the help of imperialist powers and fought
against the Ottoman Empire. This was the war Armenians
started and they massacred hundreds of thousands of Turkish
people. Genocide is a crime with a specific definition
established by the UN Genocide Convention of 1948, which
the United States ratified. When accusing a nation of
genocide, you have the burden of proof in international
court, otherwise it is slander."
DLW:do 4/12/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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