HOUSTON, TX – Civic, community, and educational initiatives marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were in high gear throughout the state of Texas this April, with Armenian Americans securing proclamations from six key cities throughout the Lone Star state in the days surrounding a rally at the State Capitol, held on April 23rd, reported the Armenian National Committee of Texas (ANC-TX).

The state capital city of Austin was joined in marking the Genocide by Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, College Station, and Galveston. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are 3 of the top 10 largest cities in the United States. Local activists in each city, working as part of the Texas Joint Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, approached the Mayors and City Councils, raising awareness about this crime against humanity. The texts of the resolutions are provided below.

“The Texas Joint Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide did an excellent job, motivating our community, educating elected officials, and strengthening the advocacy capabilities of the growing Texas Armenian community,” said ANC-TX spokesperson Vatche Hovsepian. “We look forward to expanding our outreach in support of national legislation on the Armenian Genocide and the full range of issues of concerns to the Texas Armenian community.”

On April 23rd, over 400 Armenian Americans from throughout the state, carrying Armenian and American flag, and banners calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, arrived at the State Capitol for a special 90th anniversary Genocide Observance. The event was featured prominently in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper and covered on several local television news channels.

The Texas Joint Committee worked closely with the Texas Senate to secure adoption of a resolution marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. While the Senate did recognize April 24 2005 as “Armenian Martyrs Day,” the Texas Armenian community was disappointed that the resolution fell short of properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide as “genocide.” Efforts toward an improved resolution have already begun for the next legislative session.

Further away in El Paso, local activist Greg Yakoobian arranged for a billboard on busy Interstate 10 calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Some 150,000 commuters see the red-blue-orange background billboard daily, which reads “Turkey: 1,500,000 victims say you MUST recognize the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, April 24, 1915”

Earlier in the year, the ANC of Texas worked extensively with the Holocaust Museum of Houston to arrange “The Forgotten Genocide Exhibit,” featured at the museum from March 29 – May 31, 2005. The exhibit is part of a unified international effort to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and unite with genocide survivors of all races and ethnicities. It includes a newly created portrait, by artist Bob Schiffhaur of the German-Jewish writer Frantz Werfel to accompany an early German edition of his novel “Forty Days of Musa Dagh” based on the factual resistance to the Genocide. Also there are artifacts, relics and shards of the past that have these long 90 years preserved memories: a Bible, an ancient rolled script, a hand-woven tablecloth and other items that were part of daily life before the Genocide. From after the Genocide there are postage stamps of the Near East Foundation to help the orphans, children’s artwork to fund orphanages, survivors handwritten notes from the 1930’s and 1950’s about their forever lost villages.

A selection of the 1996 Glendale, CA based “Genocide Project” contains some of the remaining survivors photographs and first hand accounts. These are split images of faces and fingers. The photographer Oshagan said “We wanted the discontinuity of the killings, how their first life was stripped from them and a second forced upon them, to show up in (these) sliced images.”

In addition to the exhibit, the Holocaust Museum of Houston will also be hosting a lecture by William Parsons, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on May 26th at 6:30pm. Admission is open to the public.

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Text of Dallas, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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Proclamation

WHEREAS, this Armenians throughout the world, the United States and throughout Texas will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children in the twentieth century’s first genocide; and

WHEREAS, the survivors of this massacre have maintained their identity through knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, Armenians from across Texas are gathering on the capital steps of Austin on April 24, 2005 to observe this event.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAURA MILLER, and on behalf of the Dallas City Council, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY
In Dallas, Texas

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Text of San Antonio, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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City of San AntonioProclamation

WHEREAS, On April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, During the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred approximately 2.5 million men, women and children of the Armenian population in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and

WHEREAS, Although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity, while passing along to each generation knowledge about their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, The City of San Antonio joins in this observance, and urges all citizen to commemorate this tragic event in world history, and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice for all.

NOW, Therefore, I, Edward D. Garza, Mayor of the City of San Antonio, in recognition thereof, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005 to be

“Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day”

In San Antonio, Texas.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of San Antonio to be affixed this 21st day April, 2005.

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Text of Austin, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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PROCLAMATION

Be it known that

Whereas,Between 1915 and 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, more than a million people of Armenian ancestry were victims of a genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire; and,

Whereas, We join with the Armenian-American citizen of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities; and,

Whereas, We, Likewise, join with the Armenian Community of Austin in honoring the memory of these victims at ceremonies being held here today;

Now, Therefore, I, Will Wynn, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas,

Do hereby proclaim

April 24, 2005AsArmenian Genocide Remembrance DayIn Austin.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand and caused the seal of the Cityof Austin to be affixed this 19th Dayof April in the Year Two Thousand Five

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Text of College Station, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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Proclamation

Office of the Mayor, City of College Station

Whereas, On April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide;

And

Whereas, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old, massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children in the twentieth century’s first genocide; and

Whereas, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

Whereas, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours;

And

Now Therefore, I, Ron Silvia, Mayor of the City of College Station, Texas, and acting on behalf of the City Council do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
In College Station, Texas

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Text of Houston, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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Armenian Martyrs Day

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and

WHEREAS, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, the survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr’s Day; and

WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, City of Houston residents will be called together to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915; and

WHEREAS, this commemoration will serve as an appropriate time for the people of the City of Houston and others to remember the 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children who lost their lives; and

Therefore, I, Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Martyrs Day

In Houston, Texas.

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Text of Galveston, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
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PROCLAMATION

We the Mayor and City Council, by virtue of the authority vested by the City of Galveston, Texas, do proclaim

April 24, 2005

as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in the City of Galveston

WHEREAS, City of Galveston and Armavir region in Armenia have been sister cites since September 2001 through the University of Texas Medical Branch healthcare and disaster preparedness collaboration funded by AIHA-USAID; and

WHEREAS, On April 24th, 2005 Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and

WHEREAS, The survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr’s Day, and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council for the City of Galveston, Texas does urge each and every citizen to join our sister city and commemorate this tragic event in world history and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice in this and all other nations of the world.

In testimony whereof, witness my hand and Seal of the City of Galveston,
this 24th day of February 2005.