Whereas, The Armenian Genocide of World War I is now classified as the twentieth century’s first genocide where agents of the Turkish Government who included military personnel and willing civilian volunteers utilized some of the cruelest methods ever used to destroy Armenian men, women and children; those Armenians spared a quick and violent death by blade, bullet or beating were starved and dehydrated during forced exile marches suffered by Armenians and also Greeks and Assyrians, two other Christian minorities singled out by the Turks for their differences; and,

Whereas, The Armenian Genocide would become a watershed event in the development of international intervention principles and human rights awareness and would also be cited as an example by international legal scholar Raphael Lemkin when establishing the creation of the word “genocide”; and,

Whereas, The Armenian Genocide would lead to the emigration to America of hundreds of thousands of Armenians who then contributed to American society as a whole and who also live and work across the State of Michigan; and,

Whereas, April 24th is recognized as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, and acknowledging that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and,

Whereas, the movement toward full recognition of the Genocide follows its steady pace, every human being wanting to be counted as an Armenian Genocide recognition supporter can be considered a friendly neighbor among a growing and cherished community of people who treasure the truth; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in Michigan in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and in honor of the survivors, and I encourage the citizens of the State of Michigan to strive to overcome intolerance and indifference through learning and remembrance.