[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 132 (Friday, August 5, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E824-E825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING ASSYRIAN MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 5, 2022

  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Assyrian 
Memorial Day, which is observed annually on August 7th, to honor the 
memory of all Assyrians who fell victim to genocide, mass atrocities, 
and persecution because of their ethnic and religious identity. This 
day commemorates the victims of the Assyrian Genocide of 1914-1923 and 
the Simele Massacre of 1933. August 7th marks the start of the Simele 
Massacre, during which the armed forces of the Kingdom of Iraq 
systematically targeted and killed thousands of Assyrians. Assyrian 
Memorial Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the perseverance of 
the Assyrian people and revive efforts

[[Page E825]]

to bring accountability and justice for these almost century-old 
crimes,
  While I rise to recognize the atrocities of the past, I also applaud 
the strength of the Assyrian-American community. Today, over 600,000 
Assyrian Americans live in the United States, and I am proud to say 
that the 8th Congressional District of Illinois is home to a large and 
thriving Assyrian-American community. This community has enriched our 
neighborhood with its strength and determination. As a proud cosponsor 
of H. Res. 550, a resolution commemorating the Assyrian Genocide and 
urging Turkey to officially recognize the atrocity, I stand in 
solidarity with the vibrant Assyrian-American community I represent.
  On August 7th, we remember the tragedies that the Assyrian people 
have faced but also recognize their resilience in the face of extreme 
injustice. Madam Speaker, I call on my fellow Members to stand 
alongside me in observing August 7th as Assyrian Memorial Day.

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