Senate Resolution No. 2646

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMENDING the Bosnian American Community
Association for hosting the 3rd Annual Srebrenica
Walk in Utica, New York, on July 11, 2024

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
those organizations which work to preserve and curate history, exposing
wrongdoings and injustices, while setting examples for positive action
for the citizenry of this great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Bosnian American Community Association for hosting the 3rd
Annual Srebrenica Walk at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New
York, on Thursday, July 11, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Annually, Remembering Srebrenica, a British charitable
initiative, selects a theme to reflect an aspect of the genocidal
tragedy which warrants commemoration; the theme for 2024 is, "I Am
Because You Are"; the Srebrenica Walk honors and remembers more than
8,000 victims who fell prey to the Serbian forces; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Srebrenica, in eastern Bosnia, was besieged by
Serbian military and paramilitary units under the direct control of war
criminals, General Ratko Mladic and Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan
Karadzic; and

WHEREAS, Srebrenica also became a place where thousands of people
from neighboring villages and towns found refuge, and it was declared a
United Nations Safe Zone; however, this did not prevent Serbian forces
from entering Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, separating men from women and
children and executing them within four days; and

WHEREAS, The Srebrenica Walk represents the survivors who were
forced to hide in the forests and mountains and walk for miles to reach
the Town of Tuzla and other safe zones, escaping persecution;
unfortunately, many never reached safe zones and died in the forests
from gunfire, diseases, lack of food and water, and exhaustion; and

WHEREAS, In Bosnia, there is an annual March for Peace in which
thousands of people walk on the routes that survivors once walked; with
this act, the Bosnian American Community Association remembers and
honors those who died and those who survived this horrible event; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Bosnian American Community Association for hosting the 3rd
Annual Srebrenica Walk, honoring and memorializing the victims of the
Srebrenica Genocide of July 11, 1995; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Bosnian American Community Association.