AJR 32 Moving Forward in State Assembly

SACRAMENTO, CA – On April 7, a delegation of over 100 members from the Armenian Council of America participated in a day of advocacy to gain support for Assembly Joint Resolution 32 during the annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration sponsored by the California State Senate and Assembly at the State Capitol.

The delegation, made up of members from all throughout the Golden State, met with several elected officials discussing Assembly Joint Resolution 32 and effectively gaining support from a large number of Assemblymembers. Some of the State representatives the ACA met with, included, Speaker of the State Assembly John Perez, Scott Wilk, Mike Gatto, Katcho Achadjian, Chris Holden, Ed Chau, Adrin Nazarian, Roger Dickinson, Tim Donnelly and several others.

AJR 32 calls for the United States to recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a sovereign state, invokes strong language from the United States’ own history regarding the rights of the people to “self-determination and democratic independence.” If Gatto’s resolution passes, it would make California the most populous governmental entity to call for Nagorno-Karabakh’s recognition or to recognize it outright.

Assemblymember Mike Gatto, announced today that through the collaborative efforts of the ACA, AJR 32 will move forward in the policy committee and will be on its way to get full consideration by the State Assembly. The Resolution is projected to be heard on the Assembly floor after the Spring recess around April 28. Four other states have passed similar legislation, including Louisiana, which was spearheaded by the ACA Louisiana Chapter.

The day-long activities featured a reception where dignitaries, including Senator de Leon and Lara, Assemblymembers Gatto, Achadjian, Wilk, Gomez, Brown, Nazarian and others, reiterated their supportive stance towards recognition of the Armenian Genocide and applauded the audience for all their efforts in working towards the Armenian Cause.