April 8, 1986

Executive Department
State of California

A PROCLAMATION
by the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred at the brutal hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire; and

WHEREAS, for the sake of our ancestors, our children and all mankind we, as freedom loving people, must have the strength and resolve to speak out against this horrible genocide by informing the world's tyrants that we will not stand by in silence any longer and will not allow these atrocities to go unanswered; and

WHEREAS, earlier this year, the United States Senate took a strong stand to prevent the recurrence of crimes against all humanity, like those suffered by the Armenian people during World War I, the Jewish people during World War II and the Southeast Asians during the 1970's, by passing the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights recently adopted the report of its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in which the 1915 Armenian massacres are defined as a genocide; and

WHEREAS, formal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide by the world community would underscore our abhorrence and help deter further acts of violence; and

WHEREAS, each April, people across our country and throughout the world gather in churches, meeting halls and homes to commemorate the tragic loss of our Armenian friends, grandparents and brothers and sisters; and

WHEREAS, this solemn observance is a time for decent people everywhere to join in a common effort to ensure that this horror never repeats itself;

NOW, THEREFORE, I GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 51 do hereby proclaim April 24, 1986 as a State Day of Remembrance and have ordered the flags over the State Capitol to be flown at half mast and urge civilized people throughout the world to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of April 1986.

Signed
George Deukmejian

Governor of California

ATTEST:

Signed
March Fung Eu

Secretary of State