Commemoration joint resolution passes at R.I. State House

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The Rhode Island House and Senate recently passed resolutions commemorating both the Armenian Genocide and Holocaust. This was the first time a joint resolution for both atrocities was introduced. Previously, resolutions for the Armenian Genocide and The Holocaust were introduced and passed separately. However, this year, the commemorations fell on the same day. In the spirit of unity and a show of mutual support, both House Bill H6120, sponsored by Rep. Katherine Kazarian, and Senate Bill 0825, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Goldin, named “Commemorating ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’ and ‘Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day’ and Avowing That These Atrocities Shall Never Be Repeated,” were introduced and then passed unanimously

The passage of the resolutions comes one year after the passage of legislation requiring Genocide and Holocaust education be taught in Rhode Island’s middle and high schools.

The Armenian Genocide began on April 24, 1915, when the Ottoman Turkish authorities rounded up, arrested, and deported over 200 prominent Armenian professionals and intellectuals and later murdered them. The Armenian Genocide, during which more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in planned exterminations, was carried out during and after World War I. During the Holocaust, which occurred from 1941 to 1945, more than 6 million Jews were systematically murdered in Europe.

Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, R.I. middle and high schools will educate students on genocides including, but not limited to, the Armenian, Cambodian, Rwandan, Darfur and the Holocaust. The intention is to educate students on the impact these atrocities have had on civilization. In 2016, when the bill passed in the R.I. General Assembly, only seven states had passed similar legislation, and R.I. was the only state in New England. Today, 11 states have now passed similar legislation, and eight other states are considering it.

Since the passage of “An Act Relating to Education – Holocaust and Genocide Education,” a committee has been meeting regularly and working diligently to help with implementation of Genocide and Holocaust education in the R.I. public schools. The committee includes members of the Armenian, Jewish, Cambodian and African communities.

Submitted by the Holocaust/Genocide Education Committee