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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, As a means of memorializing the victims and the |
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survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides that have occurred |
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throughout history, the Legislature of the State of Texas joins |
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institutions around the world in recognizing the month of April as |
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Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month; and |
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WHEREAS, Across the globe, those atrocities known as |
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genocides have had their origins in the stratification of society |
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and the dehumanization of a group of people by those who harbor |
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intolerance, hatred, and violent proclivities; and |
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WHEREAS, Many of these genocides have stemmed from events |
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that occurred in the month of April, or have had defining moments at |
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that time of year; in April of 1933, the Nazis issued a decree |
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preparing the way for the "Final Solution" to all of Jewish faith or |
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descent, and the tragedy that ensued was one of the world's most |
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horrific; and |
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WHEREAS, In April of 1975, the Khmer Rouge entered the |
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Cambodian capital and initiated massacres that led to the death of |
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two million people; in April of 1992, the siege of Sarajevo began, |
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leading to the deaths of more than 2,000 Bosnian Serbs; in April of |
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2003, the displacement of Darfurians began in Sudan, leading to |
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hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions; |
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and in April of 2004, the Rwandan president's plane was shot down, |
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leading to the killing of moderate leaders by Hutu hardliners and |
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the later slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2009, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed |
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Senate Bill 482, which created the Texas Holocaust and Genocide |
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Commission; the commission is dedicated to obtaining, organizing, |
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and distributing information on genocides and to ensuring that |
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schools, organizations, and communities have access to this |
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genocide information and history; and |
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WHEREAS, The legislature has chosen the month of April to |
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emphasize the need to heighten public awareness of the early stages |
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of human behavior that spawn acts of genocide, the need to build |
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strong communities and prevent future genocides, and the need on |
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the state and national levels to continue to honor all who have been |
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victimized by genocide; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby declare the month of April each year from 2011 through 2020 |
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Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month in tribute to all whose |
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lives were touched by genocide and as a reminder of the need for the |
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protection of human rights and for vigilance against the forces of |
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intolerance; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in |
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recognition of Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month. |