July 13, 2010
City of Grand Rapids, Michigan adopted the proclamation proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the City of Grand Rapids. Since 2005, City of Grand Rapids’ Mayor George Heartwell issued supported Srebrenica Remembrance Day and Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute proclamation.
Grand Rapids is home to a large number of Bosnian Americans. Congress of North American Bosniaks is thankful to the City’s elected and administrative officials support for Bosnian Americans. Honorable George K. Heartwell has honored Bosniak organizations in Grand Rapids at a special reading of the proclamation at City of Grand Rapids government meeting. Honorable Heartwell read the proclamation and stated how important Bosniak American community in Grand Rapids is, “with over 5,000 in the metropolitan Grand Rapids area” who contribute to the economy and well being of the community. The following representatives from various Bosniak American organizations were present at the even where Mayor handed copies of the resolution to each present:
Ahmet Kadic, Vice President of the Michigan chapter of the Congress of North American Bosniaks; imam dr. Muaz Redzic, from Bosnian Cultural Center (BCC), Sanel Fazlic, pas president of the BCC; Jasminko Hodzic, president of the Board of the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC) Behar; and imam Edip Makic from ICC Behar.
Haris Alibasic, president of the Congress of North American Bosniaks spoke on behalf of Bosniak organizations and thanked the City for continuous support to Bosnian Americans and for welcome to the new resident and citizens of this community.
City of Kentwood, Michigan adopted the proclamation proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the City of Kentwood (see in PDF format). This is the third year that Mayor Richard Root and the City Council supported and adopted similar proclamation. Kentwood has a large Bosnian American population.
Earlier this month on July 1, 2010, State of Michigan House of Representatives adopted House resolution No. 311 proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan. Representatives from all parties represented in the House unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution. Congress of North American Bosniaks is thankful to Michigan legislators for their support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnian Americans and to the City elected and administrative officials support. CNAB thanks
From 1992-1995, Serbs from heavily militarized villages around Srebrenica had terrorized Bosniak civilians and constantly attacked neighboring Bosniak villages. In July 1995 the Bosnian Serbs took control of Srebrenica and committed genocide. In the course of the Srebrenica genocide, approximately 30,000 Bosniaks had been expelled from their home and 8,372 Bosniaks had been summarily executed.
Congress of North American Bosniaks, Michigan Chapter