ORANGE, CA—On Monday, May 24th, the Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) adopted a resolution re-affirming the Armenian Genocide and its commitment to raising awareness about this issue in the community while calling on others to properly recognize the genocide. The resolution was introduced by Democratic Party Delegate from the 70th Assembly District, Justin Harlan. Armenian National Committee of America-Orange County (ANCA-OC) Chapter Chairperson, Armen Garabedian addressed the delegates at the meeting speaking in support of the resolution’s adoption. He was joined by ANCA-OC Chapter supporters and Orange County residents, Shirin Hijazin and Tsolag Apelian.
“The ANCA-Orange County Chapter as well as Orange County’s Armenian-American community warmly welcomes this evening’s vote. We commend and thank the DPOC for its principled stance in upholding human rights and grassroots activism,” noted Garabedian.
During discussion about the resolution, concerns were raised regarding the effort to address the issue at the county level and the impact the resolution would have regarding Party outreach. Garabedian addressed the organizational imperative to address the issue referring to the mission statement of the DPOC. The resolution received an affirmative vote of nearly all delegates present at the meeting.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Orange County Chapter is a grassroots, advocacy organization advancing issues of concern to the area’s Armenian American community as well as promoting the community’s civic engagement at the local, state, and federal level.
The full text of the DPOC resolution adopted on May 24, 2010:
WHEREAS, ninety-five years ago, in the spring of 1915, the government of the Ottoman Empire launched a campaign against its Armenian population. Wholesale massacres, forced marches through blistering deserts, rapes, and looting were visited upon the Armenians of Eastern Anatolia. By the time that the killings ended in 1923, one and a half million Armenians were dead and the Armenian nation had been shattered – with its survivors scattered around the world; and
WHEREAS, H.Res. 252, a non-binding resolution which calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide be documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, has just passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has 141 co-sponsors, and needs to come to a floor vote soon; therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Democratic Party of Orange County, that, on this ninety-fifth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, they commend the Armenian community for bringing awareness to the genocide and crimes against humanity that occurred during the period of 1915-1923, and publicly endorse efforts supporting the passage of H.Res. 252; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Orange County issue a press release to that effect.
