ACR 151: Greek Independence Day.

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, 2026, marks the 205th 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 nation’s 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, 2026, 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.