CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 35Introduced by Assembly Member PapanFebruary 18, 2025 Relative to Greek Independence Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 35, as introduced, Papan. Greek Independence Day.This measure would designate March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, The ancient Greeks developed the concept of democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people; andWHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of the United States drew heavily on the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative democracy; andWHEREAS, After centuries of unsuccessful uprisings and failure of the Ottoman Empire to assimilate and convert the Greeks, the Greek War of Independence began in 1821 rising up against 400 years of occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turks. During the dark years of the Ottoman occupation, thousands were killed and tortured for attending church or teaching their children Greek culture, history, and language; andWHEREAS, For eight years the fighting ensued, until 1829, when the Sultan Mahmud II, facing Russian troops at the gates of Constantinople, accepted Greek independence with the Treaty of Andrianople; andWHEREAS, March 25, 2025, marks the 204th anniversary of the rebellion and the tenacity of the Greek people to stand strong against the Ottoman Empire; andWHEREAS, Greece played a major role in the World War II struggle to protect freedom and democracy; andWHEREAS, Sir Winston Churchill said of the Greeks after this fighting, Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks; andWHEREAS, Greece and the United States of America are at the forefront of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; andWHEREAS, Those and other ideals have forged a close bond between our two nations and their peoples; andWHEREAS, Greek Independence Day reminds us of the strong principles and bonds that the United States of America and Greece share, including commitment to the democratic ideals of justice and freedom; andWHEREAS, Approximately 3,000,000 Greek Americans have joined mainstream society and began to make significant contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government, as well as in other areas; andWHEREAS, Today, we take special note of those citizens and thank them for their innumerable contributions to our nations cultural, economic, and political heritage; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day: A Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 35Introduced by Assembly Member PapanFebruary 18, 2025 Relative to Greek Independence Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 35, as introduced, Papan. Greek Independence Day.This measure would designate March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 35
Introduced by Assembly Member PapanFebruary 18, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Papan
February 18, 2025
Relative to Greek Independence Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 35, as introduced, Papan. Greek Independence Day.
This measure would designate March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day.
This measure would designate March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, The ancient Greeks developed the concept of democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people; and
WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of the United States drew heavily on the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative democracy; and
WHEREAS, After centuries of unsuccessful uprisings and failure of the Ottoman Empire to assimilate and convert the Greeks, the Greek War of Independence began in 1821 rising up against 400 years of occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turks. During the dark years of the Ottoman occupation, thousands were killed and tortured for attending church or teaching their children Greek culture, history, and language; and
WHEREAS, For eight years the fighting ensued, until 1829, when the Sultan Mahmud II, facing Russian troops at the gates of Constantinople, accepted Greek independence with the Treaty of Andrianople; and
WHEREAS, March 25, 2025, marks the 204th anniversary of the rebellion and the tenacity of the Greek people to stand strong against the Ottoman Empire; and
WHEREAS, Greece played a major role in the World War II struggle to protect freedom and democracy; and
WHEREAS, Sir Winston Churchill said of the Greeks after this fighting, Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks; and
WHEREAS, Greece and the United States of America are at the forefront of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and
WHEREAS, Those and other ideals have forged a close bond between our two nations and their peoples; and
WHEREAS, Greek Independence Day reminds us of the strong principles and bonds that the United States of America and Greece share, including commitment to the democratic ideals of justice and freedom; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3,000,000 Greek Americans have joined mainstream society and began to make significant contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government, as well as in other areas; and
WHEREAS, Today, we take special note of those citizens and thank them for their innumerable contributions to our nations cultural, economic, and political heritage; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates March 25, 2025, as Greek Independence Day: A Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution.