California State Assembly Passes Resolution Celebrating Nowruz
April 11, 2014, Sacramento, CA – On March 24, 2014, the California State Assembly joined the Iranian American community in celebrating Nowruz by passing its first resolution commemorating the holiday. Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) presented resolution ACR 91 in the Assembly, which recognized March 20th as the Persian New Year. Of 80 Assembly Members, the resolution gained the support of 72 co-authors.
“Californians of Iranian heritage that immigrated here for nearly four decades have significantly advanced our state’s vibrant industries, academic achievements, help grow our cities, and continue to convey California’s prestige with their presence in our state,” said Nazarian, as he introduced the resolution. He also pointed out that the Iranian population in California is greater than the Iranian populations in the next twenty states combined, and that this resolution is long overdue.
“Nowruz is a resolution of peace and goodwill,” he said. “For the people celebrating Nowruz, it is a time to appreciate their heritage. However, Nowruz gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate and move forward with hope for a prosperous new year filled with health, prosperity, love, joy, and success.”
Assembly Member Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernadino) also expressed her support for the resolution, describing Nowruz as “an important cultural holiday” and one which “provides the opportunity to celebrate hope for a new year and share longstanding family and community traditions.”
Assembly Member Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus and Assembly Member Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) of the Legislative Black Caucus also expressed their support for the resolution. Weber compared the Nowruz tradition of spring cleaning, or “shaking the house,” to the Ghanaian Festival of the Yams, in both of which people “come together to talk about casting off the past and moving forward a new way, with a new perspective for the future.”
Click here to watch the introduction of ACR 91.
Click here to read the full text of ACR 91.
