Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lisa Kalustian Chief Deputy Director
300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213)897-0322
FAX (213)897-0319
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed the week of
April 19th through April 26th as “Days of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide.” Please feel free to share this information and use it in
your annual commemorations and remembrances.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION

It is important to remember the horrors of the past in order to keep
history from repeating itself. The Armenian Genocide was a terrible
breach of human rights and an event that has outraged the world.
Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million innocent Armenians lost their lives
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and 500,000 more were forced from
their homeland.

The atrocities carried out against the Armenian people were grave and
unimaginable, as they were subjected to deportation, abduction,
torture, starvation and more. And as with any violent conflict,
Armenian women and children suffered the worst abuses. The bulk of
the Armenian population that was displaced from their homes was forced
to escape to neighboring as well as faraway countries. Many fled to
the United States.

Today, California is honored to be home to a vibrant Armenian-American
population, the largest outside the Republic of Armenia. This
thriving community is a proud reminder of survival and determination
even in the face of extreme injustice.

As Americans and Californians, it is our duty to raise awareness of
the Armenian Genocide and to participate in the remembrance and
mourning of the loss of innocent lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2010, as “Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”

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
2010.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

ATTEST:

DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State