The State of Michigan House resolution

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The State of Michigan House resolution regarding the White Armband Day  is a contribution to the truth about genocide in Prijedor and justice for the victims of this crime

 May 27, 2015

The State of Michigan Representatives adopted the House Resolution HR 96 of 2015, proclaiming May 31, 2015 as White Armband Day in the state of Michigan. State Representatives unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution. The Institute for Research of Genocide Canada {IGC} welcomes the news of the passing of the House Resolution. Chairman of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada {IGC} professor Emir Ramic  thanked the Michigan legislators for their support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosniak Americans in Michigan Considering that this is a major step toward the truth about the genocide in Prijedor and justice for the victims of this crime. At the same time professor Ramic on behalf of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada {IGC} thanked the Congress of North American Bosniaks {CNAB} on activities regarding the adoption of the Resolution. At the end professor Ramic thanked Dr. Haris Alibašić, a member of the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada on activities regarding the resolution.

Transcript  of the House Resolution HR 96 of 2015

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/resolutionadopted/House/pdf/2015-HAR-0096.pdf

Reps. Dillon, Brinks, Yanez, Kivela, Cochran, Geiss, Hoadley, Neeley, Greig, Darany, Gay-Dagnogo, Byrd, Clemente, Moss, Guerra, Singh, Rutledge, VerHeulen, Pscholka, Victory, Barrett, Hughes, Hooker, Howrylak, Muxlow, Lucido, Callton, Outman, LaFontaine, Garcia, Greimel, Driskell, Faris, Pagan and Schor offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 96.

A resolution to declare May 31, 2015, as White Armband Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, The horror of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina should never be forgotten; and

Whereas, May 31, 2015, is commemorated as the 23rd anniversary when the Serb authorities in Prijedor, a town in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina, ordered all non-Serbs to mark their houses with white flags or sheets and to wear a white armband if they left their houses; and

Whereas, As a direct result of ethnic cleansing of the Prijedor municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the town of Kozarac, 53,000 of its Bosniak residents were expelled from their homes, some 3173 unarmed civilians were executed, and 31,000 civilians were interned in various Serb run concentration camps; and

Whereas, This anniversary, together with this year’s 23rd anniversary since the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raise awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnia and Herzegovina people and honors and remembers over 100,000 civilians who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period of 1992-1995; and

Whereas, The tragic history of the genocide offers an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities of individuals, societies, and governments, and serves as an important reminder of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred, and indifference govern; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the importance of this event to bring closure for the Bosnian people through justice and truth; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare May 31, 2015, as White Armband Day in the state of Michigan. We remember the victims of the policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the representatives of the Congress of North American Bosniaks as evidence of our profound respect and esteem.