April 1, 1975

City of Fresno, Office of the Mayor Proclamation

WHEREAS, a significant segment of the population of the San Joaquin Valley is composed of the Armenian people who have contributed to the progress and betterment of life through agriculture, commerce, teaching the professions, churches, and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians among us are a remnant people of a nation against whom the first genocide of the 20th century was made, beginning on April 24, 1915, when a million and a half of them, comprising half the total of Armenians living during the Ottoman Empire, were annihilated by the Turkish government through a series of well-planned and secretly instituted atrocities, including the murder of the menfolk and the forced marches into the deserts of the women and children, where their ranks were decimated by hunger, lack off water and shelter; and

WHEREAS, by their own resolute Christian faith and will to survive and live again, and the generosity of many in the United States of America resulting in relief operations, a fraction of them were rescued subsequently immigrated to this country and now comprise several hundred thousand in number; and

WHEREAS, their contribution top the building of America is evident by their leadership in the fields of education, science medicine, the arts and government; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian community is an integral and important member of this multi-ethnic city and desires to help create and promote a greater appreciation for each culture; and

WHEREAS, we join the Armenians on this, the 60th Anniversary of this genocide, to affirm out conviction that genocide in whatever form and against whomever it is perpetrated, is rejected and condemned by us and all peace-loving and justice-seeking people of the world:

NOW THEREFORE, I, Ted C. Wills, Mayor of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim the week of April 20-26, 1975 as

ARMENIAN HERITAGE WEEK

AND Thursday, April 24th as "Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Men," and urge all the citizens of Fresno to render proper recognition to this solemn occasion and commemorations of the 60th Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Armenian people, and to participate in the activities of Armenian Heritage week. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the Seal of the City of Fresno
to be affixed this 1st day of
April, 1975.

signed
Ted C. Willis