Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
l { � <br /> r' 1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 16, 2002 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. <br /> SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Armenian Martyrs Day and Other Similar Atrocities <br /> DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Annette M. Moore, ext 2254 <br /> • Proclamation <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a proclamation recognizing and remembering Armenian <br /> Martyrs Day as well as the other millions who perished in similar genocides throughout the 20' <br /> Century. <br /> BACKGROUND: The first genocide of the 20`h Century occurred when two million Armenians <br /> living in Turkey were, through forced deportation and massacres, eliminated from their <br /> homeland. The government order to exterminate the Armenian people on April 24, 1915 led to <br /> more than 1.5 million Armenians being killed (3/4 of the population) and spawned other <br /> governmental efforts to exterminate populations throughout the 20th Century including Nazi <br /> Germany under Adolph Hitler. On August 22, 1939, Hitler's instructions to his Army <br /> commanders were as follows: <br /> "Thus for the time being I have sent to the East my 'Death's Head Units' with the orders to <br /> kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of Polish race or language. Only in <br /> such a way will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays about the <br /> Armenians?" <br /> In recognition and remembrance of those who perished between 1915 and 1923 in the <br /> genocide, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY. <br /> Throughout the 201h Century, countries have perpetrated genocide or race killing in the name of <br /> hate. The Human Relations Commission calls upon-the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners to proclaim April 24' as Armenian Martyrs Day in remembrance of all persons <br /> who perished in the 200h Century and throughout history in the name of racial, religious and <br /> ethnic cleansing so that we do not forget the inevitable outcome of our daily intolerances. <br />