\u201cThis incredible victory, which achieves universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Western Region\u2019s 19 states, was possible because of the outstanding unity and activism demonstrated by the diverse Armenian community of Texas, the unflinching leadership of State Representative Scott Sanford and his fellow lawmakers, as well as the dedication and persistent work of our grassroots \u2013 ANCA-Houston and ANCA-Dallas<\/a> \u2013 and staff. While many Texan Armenians and community groups were instrumental in the passage of and building ground for HR191, I would like to specifically recognize the former ANCA-Dallas founding chair Lucia Nazarian for initiating Texas\u2019 recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Focused Advocacy President Brandon Todd Aghamalian and University of Texas Austin Professor and Armenian Church of Austin representative Mihran Aroian for their leadership in bringing the Armenian community together to make this important recognition a reality,\u201d continued Hovsepian.<\/p>\n The resolution, which had over 50 original bipartisan cosponsors and passed unanimously, declares, in part, that \u201cDuring World War I, the crumbling Ottoman Empire began a systematic campaign to eradicate its Armenian population, which then numbered more than two million; and\u2026 as many as 1.5 million Armenians perished and today, only 3 million live in Armenia, a country that covers no more than 10 percent of the ancient Armenian homeland, while the Armenian diaspora numbers 8 to 10 million in countries around the world, including the United States,\u201d concluding with the resolved clause \u201cThat the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize the Armenian genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Texas follows renewed activism in The Lone Star State, including the 2015 defeat of anti-Armenian resolutions<\/a> as well as adoption of HR 1541<\/a>, which recognized Texans\u2019 contributions to the Near East Relief that saved 132,000 orphans of the Armenian Genocide. The latter humanitarian effort was recognized by ANCA-Dallas during its April 2, 2016 \u2018Texas We Thank You\u2019 Gala, at which Rep. Sanford received the ANCA-Dallas Advocate of Justice award<\/a> for his long-time support for Armenian Genocide awareness.<\/p>\n HR 191 was introduced by Rep. Sanford on January 26, followed by a public hearing in the International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs committee on April 24, during which ANCA-WR Chief Legislative Consultant Haig Baghdassarian joined a large group of Armenian Americans as well as representatives from the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission and Houston\u2019s Holocaust Museum in testifying in support of HR 191<\/a>. Following the testimony, ANCA-WR called its online activists in Texas to action, as a result of which hundreds of letters were emailed to state legislators. Many more phone calls were made through joint efforts of the Armenian community in a strong demonstration of unity and grassroots activism.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 passage of HR 191 follows the Wyoming Governor\u2019s recognition of the Armenian Genocide in April 2017, thus completing universal recognition in the ANCA-Western Region, which consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. An interactive map of all US states\u2019 official record on the Armenian Genocide is available on https:\/\/anca.org\/us-genocide-recognition\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n The full text of the Texas House resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide is available on ftp:\/\/ftp.legis.state.tx.us\/bills\/85R\/billtext\/html\/house_resolutions\/HR00100_HR00199\/HR00191I.htm.<\/a><\/p>\n The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.<\/p>\n Photograph for press release: http:\/\/www.ancawr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Advocate-of-Justice-Honoree-State-Representative-Scott-Sanford.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"http:\/\/blog.armeniancause.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ANCA-Dallas-State-Representative-Scott-Sanford-300x243.jpg\")
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