Bill > S0910

This Resolution officially proclaims May 19th of 2017 as "Greek Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island, acknowledging the systematic killing and forced displacement of 353,000 Pontian and Anatolian Greeks by the Ottoman Turks between 1914 and 1922, an event also referred to as the first mass genocide of the 20th century, alongside the Armenian Genocide. The resolution emphasizes the importance of remembering the victims, learning from this historical atrocity to prevent future genocides, and honoring the survivors and their descendants who have contributed to Rhode Island's culture. It also directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of this resolution to leaders of Greek-American organizations, specifically Gus Tsilfides of the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and Canada and Panagiotis Petridis of the Panagia Soumela Pontian Society of Boston.