WISCONSIN GOVERNOR ISSUES PROCLAMATION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Governor Jim Doyle proclaims April 24, 2005, “Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 –1923”
Governor Jim Doyle proclaims April 24, 2005, “Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 –1923”
MADISON, WI – On March 8, 2005, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle issued a proclamation in recognition of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Specifically, Governor Doyle proclaimed April 24, 2005, “Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 – 1923”.
“The entire Armenian-American population of Wisconsin is very grateful to Governor Doyle for taking action to recognize this tragic event in World History”, stated ANC of Wisconsin representative Zohrab Khaligian in a letter to the Governor. The proclamation will be read at the program and reception Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be held Tuesday, April 26 at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
The proclamation states that “from 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Turks implemented the systematic destruction of thousands of Armenian communities through massacres and death marches in which more than 1,500,000 Armenians perished” and that “despite the overwhelming evidence borne out by a wealth of documentation, the Turkish government has never recognized nor accepted responsibility for the genocide of the Armenian people”.
The complete text of the proclamation is provided below.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization in Wisconsin and nationwide. The ANC actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
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THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
OFFCE OF THE GOVERNOR
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turks rounded up, deported and massacred 600 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals in Constantinople and other major cities along with 5,000 Armenians who were killed in the streets and in their homes; and
WHEREAS, from 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Turks implemented the systematic destruction of thousands of Armenian communities through massacres and death marches in which more than 1,500,000 Armenians perished and hundreds of thousands more were forcibly deported from their homes and ancient homeland; and
WHEREAS, despite the overwhelming evidence borne out by a wealth of documentation, the Turkish government has never recognized nor accepted responsibility for the genocide of the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923; and
WHEREAS, by denying and trying to distort the facts of this first genocide of the 20th Century, the present day Turkish government deprives the Armenian people of their right to their own history and ancient homeland; and
WHEREAS, recognition of these instances of the Turkish inhumanity to the Armenian population is crucial to guarding against the recurrence genocide;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jim Doyle, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, in recognition of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005.
WISCONSIN DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 to 1923
And I commend this observance to all citizens.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this eighth day of March in the year two thousand five.
[signed]
Jim Doyle, Govenor
By the Governor:
[signed}
Douglas LaFollette
Secretary of State