HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-01-2008-3a1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMIVIISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 1, 2008
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Action Agenda
Item No. '7~ ~Q ~ ~.
SUBJECT: A Resolution to Foster Genocide Remembrance
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Shoshannah Smith, 960-3877
TELEPHONE NUIV[BERS:
Chapel Hill 960-3875
PURPOSE: To recognize and remember the millions who have perished through acts of genocide.
BACKGROUND: Throughout the 20th century and into this century, countries have perpetrated genocide
or mass killing for hateful reasons. There have been numerous atrocities against humankind throughout
history, horrible cases of genocide directed against innocent people -- 10-20 million black Africans who
died during the 200 years of the international slave trade, the decimation of nearly 12 million Native
American Indians in North America between 1600 and 1850, Joseph Stalin's forced relocation and murder
of millions of Soviet citizens, and the more recent, so-called ethnic cleansings in Bosnia, Rwanda and
Darfur.
The first genocide of the 20th century occurred when two million Armenians living in Turkey were,
through forced deportation and massacres, eliminated from their homeland. The government order to
exterminate the Armenian people on Apri124, 19151ed to more than 1.5 million Armenians - 75% of the
population -being killed. In honor of this massacre, Apri124 has been designated Armenian Martyrs Day.
The Armenian genocide spawned other governmental efforts to exterminate populations throughout the
20th century. The most far-reaching was promulgated by Nazi Germany under Adolph Hitler. On August
22, 1939, Hitler gave the following instructions to his Army commanders:
"Thus for the time being I have sent to the East my `Death's Head Units' with the orders to kill
without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of Polish race or language. Only n_.such a way
will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays about the Armenians?"
After the initial massacre of the Polish people, the Nazis moved on to acts of genocide against other
groups, most famously Jews. In addition to the 6 million Jews who were exterminated in the Nazi
Holocaust, an estimated 5.5 million "enemies of the German State" were murdered under equally
inhumane circumstances -people known or suspected of being gay/lesbian; leftists; Jehovah's Witnesses,
Gypsies, and other non-Aryans. In recognition of the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, May 2nd
2008 is designated as Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Since the Armenian Genocide began the modern history of ethnic cleansing„ an alarming number of
genocides have taken place around the world. Below is a brief list:
- Stalin's Forced famine: 1932 -1933 - 7,000,000 Ukrainian deaths
- Rape of Nanking: 1937 -1938 - 300,000 Chinese deaths and more than 20,000 rapes
- Nazi Holocaust: 1938 - 1945- 6,000,000 Jewish deaths and 5.5 million other hate-
related deaths
- Pol Pot Cambodia: 1975-1979 - 1.7 million deaths
- Rwanda: 1994 - 800,000 Tutsis deaths
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995 - 200,000 Muslim deaths
- DarFur, Somalia: 2003-present - 200,000+ deaths
Iri recognition and remembrance of all people that have perished to further agendas of hate and
intolerance, The Office of Human Rights and Relations calls upon the Orange County Board of
Commissioners to pass a Resolution in support of Genocide Remembrance, and encourage Orange County
residents to reflect upon all acts of genocide and intolerance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
TI~[E ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION
TO FOSTER
GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
WHEREAS ,throughout history genocide has been a tragic part of humanity's existence; and
WHEREAS It is important to acknowledge that we are all partners in justice with a shared legacy
of intolerance; and
WHEREAS, Americans have contributed to historical acts of genocide, including the 10-20
million black Africans who died during the 200 years of the international slave trade, and the
decimation of nearly 12 million Native American Indians in North America between 1600 and
1850; and
WHEREAS, the country of Armenia recognizes Apri124 as Genocide Remembrance Day in
recognition of the government-ordered deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915; and
WHEREAS, May 2"d 2008 is recognized as Holocaust Remembrance Day, in honor of the victims
of Nazi genocide, including more than 6 million Jews and approximately 5.5 million other targeted
groups including Gypsies, Poles, gays and lesbians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others; and
WHEREAS, other major acts of genocide have taken place during the past century, including but
not limited to Stalin's Forced famine: (1932 -1933: 7,000,000 Ukrainian deaths); Rape of
Na~:iking (1937 -1938: 300,000 Chinese deaths and more than 20,000 rapes); Pol Pot Cambodia
(1975-1979: 1.7 million deaths); Rwanda (1994; 800,000 Tutsis deaths); Bosnia-Herzegovina
(1992-1995: 200,000 Muslim deaths); and most recently Darfur, Sudan (2003-present; 200,000
deaths); and
WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated for
future generations; and
WHEREAS, Orange County fords it equally important to remember the atrocities committed
against all peoples in the name of religious, racial and ethnic cleansing so that we may recognize
the logical outcomes of our daily intolerance;
NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Commissioners of Orange County, pass this Resolution to
Foster Genocide Remembrance, and commend this observance to all Orange County residents to
reflect upon all acts of genocide and intolerance.
THIS THE 1S` DAY OF MAY, 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners