ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE - S.B. 395 (S-1): FIRST ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 395 (Substitute S-1 as enrolled)
Sponsor: Senator Thaddeus G. McCotter
Committee: Government Operations
Date Completed: 4-30-01
RATIONALE
On April 24, 1915, the Turkish Ottoman Empire began arresting, deporting, and killing Armenian citizens living in Turkey. In that year and following years, between 1 million and 1.5 million Armenians were killed or marched to death by the Ottoman Turks, according to a report of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, July 2, 1985. In subsequent years, many nations have issued declarations recognizing the Armenian genocide, as have the U.S. Congress and several states. In Michigan, a number of resolutions have been introduced and adopted through the years to acknowledge the genocide and declare a remembrance day. It has been suggested that the State declare, in statute, April 24 as a Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
CONTENT
The bill would create a new act to declare April 24 of each year as the Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, and to designate the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday as the Days of Remembrance in this State, in memory of the victims of the genocide, and in honor of the survivors.
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
Though unacknowledged by the Turkish government, the horrors visited upon the Armenians by the Turks during World War I are well documented. By establishing an Armenian Genocide Day of Remembrance and Week of Remembrance in Michigan, the State would permanently join similar national and international observances that encourage citizens to recognize and remember the tragedy of the Armenian genocide. These observances also serve to remind people of what can happen when bigotry, indifference, and hatred are allowed to control in a civilized society. In addition, a remembrance day encourages people to reflect on what was done, and what could have been done, to save the victims of the genocide. In the past, legislative resolutions apparently have established an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day for particular years. By establishing the day in statute, the bill would ensure that the Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and the Days of Remembrance were recognized every year.
- Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanA0102\s395a
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.