April 9, 2001 - The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution declaring April 24th, 2001 Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco and sent a letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.  Members of the Armenian-American community in San Francisco were on hand to thank the Board for its appreciation of the importance of reaffirming the history of the Armenian Genocide.

The letter reads:
 
"Dear Mr. President - We are writing to express our strong support for your principled stand on the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide as defined in a series of statements and letters during your campaign for presidency.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring April 24th, 2001 Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco.  We look forward to your statement of recognition on April 24th and hope that you will take this opportunity to reiterate your stand.  We urge you to formally acknowledge this brutally tragic episode in human history and describe it for what it was - a genocide.

Thank you for recognizing the tragic suffering of the Armenian people."

The text of the resolution passed by the Supervisors is:
Whereas, in 1915 the Ottoman Turkish government initiated a prolonged and brutal campaign of terror and mass execution that caused the deaths of more than 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian heritage from 1915 to 1922, and the forced deportation of hundreds of thousands of survivors, many of whom settled in San Francisco; and

Whereas, Despite the overwhelming proof that this attempted annihilation of the Armenian people was the result of governmental policy and genocidal intent, the Republic of Turkey has persisted to this day in denying that the Armenian Genocide occurred, thereby encouraging the commission of genocide and ethnic cleansing by others throughout the 20th Century; and

Whereas, San Francisco is proud to join its Armenian-American community in its commemoration of the 86th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th Century; and

Whereas, joining our voices in one refrain we can help ensure that the Armenian Genocide is included in all historical accounts to guard against the occurrence of genocide in the future; therefore be it

Resolved, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors does hereby declare April 24th, 2001 Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco; and be it

Further Resolved, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will send a letter urging President George W. Bush to recognize the Armenian Genocide.