Washington DC Council unanimously passes Armenian Genocide resolution

ArmInfo.  Today, for the first time since its initial recognition in 2019, the Council of Washington, DC, unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide,  emphasizing the importance of educating DC residents about the crime.  The ceremonial resolution, led by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen,  was adopted by unanimous consent, 12-0. 

In the resolution, the Council recognized the deaths of over 1.5  million Armenians from 1915 through 1923 as Genocide and noted the  unique role that the District of Columbia had in alleviating the mass  suffering perpetrated by Ottoman Turkish authorities. This included  having the third largest Near East Relief Committee in the nation at  the time, as well as having a storied and active Armenian American  community.

"From the bottom of our hearts, we thank Councilmember Allen for  leading this initiative and the entire DC Council for its unanimous  adoption. This is yet another example of DC standing on the right  side of history," stated ANC of Washington DC Chair Matthew Girardi.  "As a global human rights city, we must continue to recognize  genocide and ensure that our public schools teach it properly. That  is exactly why we have launched an initiative to ensure our  Superintendent takes Armenian Genocide education seriously." 

Notably, the resolution not only reaffirms DC's recognition of the  Armenian Genocide and designates April 24 as Armenian Genocide  Remembrance Day, but it also stresses the need for informing citizens  about the horrors. Community advocates present in the room were  thrilled. As such, the resolution will immediately be transmitted to  the executive branch, including the Mayor, Chancellor of Public  Schools, and Superintendent of Education. 

The ANC of Washington, DC had launched an action just two weeks  earlier, urging the DC Superintendent of Education to fully uphold  the letter and spirit of the resolution by ensuring a comprehensive  genocide education curriculum is taught to DCPS students, including  the 1915 Armenian Genocide and 2023 Artsakh Genocide. . 

"Teaching about the Armenian Genocide and the recent ethnic cleansing  in Artsakh is not only historically accurate - it is a moral  imperative," urged advocates in letters to Acting State  Superintendent Dr.  Antoniette Mitchell.