Armenian Genocide Commemorated in State Capitol Senator Portantino Leads State Senate Recognition

Sacramento, California- Today, both houses of the California State Legislature passed resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide and urged Washington to follow California’s lead. State Senator Anthony Portantino, D–La Cañada Flintridge, authored the Senate Resolution 107 along with Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Senate Pro Tempore Emeritus Kevin de-Leon, Senator Wilk, and Senator Newman. SR 107 continues the State Senate’s strong condemnation of Genocide denial and formally asks the Turkish Government to return seized private and church property to its rightful owners.

In his floor speech, Senator Portantino admonished Turkey to end its century of denial and to end threats to Artsakh that continue today.

“I am very proud to represent the largest Armenian community outside of Armenia and I am honored to fight for the proper and accurate historical accounts of the Armenian Genocide.   The appropriate embrace of history will help Armenians around the world heal in the face of an organized denialist campaign.  Having traveled to Yerevan and Artsakh and learning about so many of the tragic stories descendants of survivors tell continues to tug at my heart and inspires me to do all I can to help in this effort,” added Senator Portantino.

Senator Portantino is the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on California Armenian and Artsakh Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange.  Earlier in the year chaired the first historic hearings of the committee were eye witness accounts of the Sumgait Pogrom were entered into the California historical record.  He is also a member of the Legislative Armenian Caucus which arranged the recognition day at the State Capitol this year.

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