Bill > CER26-0038

This resolution recognizes April 24, 2025, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, commemorating the 110th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, a systematic campaign of violence by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian Christian minority population. The resolution highlights historical context, including the estimated 1.5 million Armenians and over 1 million other Christians killed through methods such as forced death marches, massacres, and starvation. It references significant historical moments like U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau's 1915 reports of "race extermination" and subsequent humanitarian efforts by Near East Relief, which provided $117 million in aid between 1915 and 1930. The resolution also notes previous recognitions of the genocide by the U.S. government, including President Ronald Reagan's 1981 proclamation and congressional acknowledgments in 1975 and 1984. The document emphasizes the importance of remembering this historical tragedy to prevent future atrocities and promote understanding. The Council of the District of Columbia resolves to recognize the day, educate residents about the genocide, and transmit the resolution to key educational authorities, with the resolution taking effect immediately upon adoption.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/CER26-0038