HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-16-2002 - 5d l { �
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ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 16, 2002
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Armenian Martyrs Day and Other Similar Atrocities
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Annette M. Moore, ext 2254
• Proclamation
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a proclamation recognizing and remembering Armenian
Martyrs Day as well as the other millions who perished in similar genocides throughout the 20'
Century.
BACKGROUND: The first genocide of the 20`h 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 April 24, 1915 led to
more than 1.5 million Armenians being killed (3/4 of the population) and spawned other
governmental efforts to exterminate populations throughout the 20th Century including Nazi
Germany under Adolph Hitler. On August 22, 1939, Hitler's instructions to his Army
commanders were as follows:
"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 in
such a way will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays about the
Armenians?"
In recognition and remembrance of those who perished between 1915 and 1923 in the
genocide, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.
Throughout the 201h Century, countries have perpetrated genocide or race killing in the name of
hate. The Human Relations Commission calls upon-the Orange County Board of
Commissioners to proclaim April 24' as Armenian Martyrs Day in remembrance of all persons
who perished in the 200h Century and throughout history in the name of racial, religious and
ethnic cleansing so that we do not forget the inevitable outcome of our daily intolerances.
2
GENOCIDE IN THE 20T" CENTURY
➢ 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 a vast number of deaths of
the mentally ill, disabled, gypsies, and those of differing political persuasions
➢ Pol Pot Cambodia: 1975 - 1979 — Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham Muslims and
other deaths
➢ Rwanda: 1994 —800,000 Tutsis deaths
➢ Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995—200,000 Muslim deaths
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMLSSIONERS
A PROCLAMATION
for
ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY
[N REMEMBRANCE OF ATROCITIES OF THE 20'^ CENTURY
Wf3EAPAS, bmve®1915-1923, the exrexmiuatiov vfmae tlw oveand vve-halfmillwv
Asmeviavs and Ne depomtion ofcomtNU oNer Asmrnians tookplace by Ne Ortnman
Tml~: ana
WHEREAS, durwg Nis ao-ociry, Axmenans were furred rowimess Ne slaughterolthev
rela4ves and We lou ofNeh amcsnal homdm3; and
W WPFFAS, Artn®iam assert that the govemmmtt of modemday ivxkey>~uses ro
recognize the facts ofgmaide; aM
Wf1EAA5, [he denial ofNe Armmiaugmocitle by Ne p~o'm[ day Twkish government
mm ro taint Ne hiatmy and duevows Axmemans vF the right ro Mcu homelands and
beritege~avd
WHERAS, ancestral Armenian lands tak®by We Ottoman Twts have notbem resumedm
the Atmerdavpevple,nmhave the Atmrnians received compmsativn for they loaves; and
WHERAS, Armenians o-aditiuvaeY d®ignamd ApN 34m a9 ARMENIAN MARTYRS
DAY, N rccogiition aMrememMavice of NOSewM d¢d during the Armewn genocide; and
wHERAS, orange eonntr ends a ~4naerimpnwnt m xanemberNe a~ames mmmirma
agaves[ oNas mN<vame or Nigious, rmial andeNnic cleansing so Na[we donut forge[ Ne
meviuble oaacmne ofomdailY inmleran¢s; aM
WEIDRAS, i[is importav[(o xememba hismry so Natxw'takes ofNe pest flte no[rtpcattd
kv tonne genaaeovs;
NOW, THERP.FORE, tlo we, N<COmwuwvea of Orange Covnry, prmlahn ApN 24°,
3002 as Afinertiav Martyri Day and mmmmd Nis nbservame m all Orange Cowry cidzvu
in rememhavtt of the anonties of Ne 20'" ¢nmry.
THIS THB 1F"a DAY OF APRIL, 2W2
Ea¢y Jambs, Chain
Orange Cowry Boazd ofCOmtvissinver