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HR 8567

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 19TH OF 2026 AS "GREEK AND PONTIC GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island proclaims May 19, 2026 as Greek and Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day to honor victims, survivors, and Greek-American communities.

05/19/2026 House read and passed
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Bill Summary · HR 8567

Overview

  • Bill: HR 8567
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 19TH OF 2026 AS "GREEK AND PONTIC GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
  • Introduced: May 19, 2026
  • Status: Passed by House (read and passed) on May 19, 2026
  • Principal authors/sponsors: Representatives Solomon, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Casey, Kennedy, Ajello, Hopkins, Shallcross Smith; co-sponsors include Mike Chippendale, Stephen Casey, Joseph Solomon, Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith, Chris Paplauskas, Brian Kennedy, Chris Blazejewski, Marie Hopkins, Katie Kazarian, Edith Ajello

Purpose and intent

  • To officially proclaim May 19, 2026, as "Greek and Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day" in Rhode Island.
  • To recognize and memorialize the Greek Pontic genocide (1913–1923) and acknowledge the broader genocidal violence experienced by Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian populations under the Ottoman Empire during that period.
  • To honor victims and survivors, and to affirm the contributions of Greek-Americans and Pontic Greek communities in Rhode Island.

Key provisions

  • Formal proclamation: Rhode Island’s House of Representatives declares May 19, 2026, as a solemn day of remembrance for the Greek and Pontic Genocide (1913–1923).
  • Acknowledgment of historical events: The resolution provides a narrative describing the mass killings and forced displacements of Pontian Greeks, Armenians, and Assyrians carried out by Ottoman authorities and later Turkish national movements.
  • Tribute to survivors and descendants: The resolution emphasizes honoring those who suffered and their contributions to Rhode Island’s cultural and civic life.
  • Communication directive: The Secretary of State is authorized to transmit certified copies of the resolution to Miltiadis Tsavdaridis, President of the Pan-Pontian Federation of the USA and Canada, as a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Who or what is affected

  • State recognition: Rhode Island designates a memorial day specific to Greek and Pontic Genocide remembrance.
  • Community impact: Acknowledges and honors Greek-American and Pontic communities within Rhode Island and those connected to them in the United States.
  • Government process: No fiscal appropriation or administrative program is described; impact is ceremonial and commemorative.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and passage: Introduced and referred to in January 2026, subsequently read and passed by the Rhode Island House on May 19, 2026.
  • Effective date: The proclamation takes effect on the date of House passage (May 19, 2026) as a formal memorial declaration.
  • Next steps: Transmittal of certified copies to the Pan-Pontian Federation leadership, via the Secretary of State, for ceremonial purposes.

Notes

  • The bill is a non-binding, symbolic resolution typical of commemorative legislation.
  • It does not establish new laws, grant authorities, or allocate funds; its primary function is to recognize and remember a historical event and to foster awareness within the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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