Recognizing Celebration of Nowruz

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-018

BY SENATOR(S) Jodeh, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Benavidez, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Marchman, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Zokaie, Bacon, Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Froelich, Garcia, Goldstein, Hamrick, Jackson, Joseph, Lindsay, Mabrey, Mauro, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Taggart, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Woodrow, McCluskie.

CONCERNING RECOGNIZING THE CELEBRATION OF NOWRUZ, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY EMBODIED IN THE WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM MOVEMENT.

WHEREAS, Nowruz, meaning "new day", is the traditional Iranian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox and marks the beginning of the year on the Persian calendar, a holiday observed for more than 3,000 years by hundreds of millions of people across Iran, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the diaspora of Middle Eastern communities around the world; and WHEREAS, Iranian Americans and members of the Iranian diaspora, including many Coloradans, celebrate N owruz and contribute greatly to the cultural, economic, and civic life of communities across the United States and the state of Colorado; and WHEREAS, N owruz is a celebration of renewal, hope, and the rebirth of nature, symbolizing the promise that each new year can bring greater

peace, prosperity, and justice; and WHEREAS, The people oflran continue to face profound challenges to their fundamental civil and human rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and equality under the law; and WHEREAS, The Women, Life, Freedom movement that began in September 2022 has become a global call for gender equality, human dignity, and fundamental civil rights, highlighting long-standing discrimination against women and girls in Iran--including legal inequality and restrictions on personal freedom--and reflecting the extraordinary courage of Iranian women and girls who demand equality and bodily autonomy; and WHEREAS, Students, journalists, activists, workers, and ordinary citizens across Iran have risked their safety and their lives in peaceful demonstrations, demanding democratic freedoms, bodily autonomy, and basic civil rights even as escalating conflict and violence in the region have placed millions of civilians at risk and caused devastating harm to families and communities; and WHEREAS, The Colorado General Assembly recognizes Nowruz as a celebration of renewal,. resilience, and hope for Middle Eastern communities across Colorado and the world; now, therefore, Belt Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That the Colorado General Assembly: ( 1) Recognizes the celebration of N owruz and extends its warmest wishes for a year of renewal, hope, and peace to Iranian communities in Colorado and around the world; (2) Affirms its solidarity with the Iranian people in their ongoing struggle for fundamental civil rights, democratic freedoms, and equality under the law; (3) Recognizes the courage and leadership oflranian women and girls

and the global call for dignity embodied in the words "Women, Life, Freedom"; (4) Mourns the lives of civilians, especially children, lost to violence and war, calling for the protection of civilians, schools, and essential community institutions; and (5) Expresses its hope that the spirit of Nowruz--a new day--will bring a future in which all people in Iran can live with equality, freedom, justice, and the full protection of their civil and human rights.

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES