HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-17-2000-5aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 17, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. 5"a
SUBJECT: Proclamation for Armenian Martyrs Day, Apri124, 2000
DEPARTMENT:
Human Rights and Relations
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ No
ATTACHMENT(S):
• Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Annette M. Moore, Extension 2250
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To recognize and celebrate ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.
BACKGROUND: Armenians have traditionally designated Apri124th as ARMENIAN MARTYRS
DAY, in recognition and remembrance of those who died during the Armenian genocide between 1915-
1923. The Human Relations Commission has historically called upon the Orange County Board of
Commissioners to officially proclaim Apri124th as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and does so again this
year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: NONE
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
PROCLAMATION
for
ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY
WHEREAS, between 1915-1923, the extermination of more than one and one-
half million Armenians and the deportation of countless other
Armenians took place by the Ottoman Turks; and
WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter
of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homelands; and
WHEREAS, Armenians assert that the government of modern-day Turkey
refuses to recognize the facts of the genocide; and
WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish
government serves to taint history and disavows Armenians of the
right to their homeland and heritage; and
WHEREAS, ancestral Armenian lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not
been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians
received compensation for their losses; and
WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated Apri124~ as ARMENIAN
MARTYRS DAY, in recognition and, remembrance of those who died
during the Armenian genocide; and
WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are
not repeated in future generations;
NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Commissioners of Orange County, proclaim
Apri124, 2000 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and commend this
observance to all Orange County .citizens.
This the 17~ day of April, 2000.
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Board of Commissioners