This measure would urge lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise a recent Polish legislation law on speech related to the Holocaust. Holocaust, would call on Congress to join that effort, and would call for a renewed commitment to Holocaust education in California.

This measure would urge lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise recent Polish legislation on speech related to the Holocaust.

WHEREAS, The recent enactment of legislation by the Parliament of Poland, signed by President Andrzej Duda, criminalizes certain speech concerning the Polish nations and the Polish states responsibility and role in crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi German occupation of Poland; and

WHEREAS, Beginning with the Nazi German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and throughout the course of the Nazi occupation, the Polish people suffered immensely at the hands of the Nazis, resulting in the death of millions of innocent Polish people during World War II; and

WHEREAS, The Polish government was in exile at the time of the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, It was Nazi Germany that engineered and perpetrated the murder of six million Jews, nearly half of them Polish Jews, largely through Nazi extermination camps in occupied Poland; and

WHEREAS, The Polish people showed undeniable bravery in resisting the occupying forces; and

WHEREAS, There were thousands of Poles, recognized by Yad Vashem, the State of Israels official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, as Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to provide assistance to Jews during the Nazi period; and

WHEREAS, There were Polish individuals and groups in Nazi-occupied Poland who committed crimes against Jews; and

WHEREAS, The new legislation law in Poland, which says in part, Whoever claims, publicly and contrary to the facts, that the Polish Nation or the Republic of Poland is responsible or co-responsible for Nazi crimes committed by the Third Reich... or Reich...or for other felonies that constitute crimes against peace, crimes against humanity or war crimes, or whoever otherwise grossly diminishes the responsibility of the true perpetrators of said crimes shall crimesshall be liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to three years, may limit the ability to convey the full story of what transpired during the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, there were thousands of Jews who died not at the hands of Nazi Germans but of their fellow Poles, as was the case in the town of Jedwabne, Poland, on July 10, 1941; and

WHEREAS, While the new controversial law in Poland does not apply to research or artistic expression, the lines of distinction may be unclear, thereby suppressing the search for truth and legitimate conversations about history; and

WHEREAS, The State of California supports the efforts of the Polish government to fight the usage of the term Polish death camps, which is historically inaccurate and hurtful; and

WHEREAS, The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland is reviewing the new law; now, therefore, be it and

WHEREAS, Since 2002, the Legislature of the State of California has held an annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, which includes honoring California residents who are Holocaust survivors and hearing their powerful stories on the floor of the Assembly; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California urges lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise the new controversial Polish law on speech related to the Holocaust so that open discussion and a thorough examination of what occurred during the Nazi German occupation of Poland can take place; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislature calls for a renewed commitment to Holocaust education in California so that future generations continue to learn about the past and work to prevent the rise of anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislature calls on Congress to join in urging lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise the new law and in renewing our national commitment to Holocaust education; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The recent enactment of legislation by the Parliament of Poland, signed by President Andrzej Duda, criminalizes certain speech concerning the Polish nations and the Polish states responsibility and role in crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi German occupation of Poland; and

WHEREAS, Beginning with the Nazi German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and throughout the course of the Nazi occupation, the Polish people suffered immensely at the hands of the Nazis, resulting in the death of millions of innocent Polish people during World War II; and

WHEREAS, The Polish government was in exile at the time of the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, It was Nazi Germany that engineered and perpetrated the murder of six million Jews, nearly half of them Polish Jews, largely through Nazi extermination camps in occupied Poland; and

WHEREAS, The Polish people showed undeniable bravery in resisting the occupying forces; and

WHEREAS, There were thousands of Poles, recognized by Yad Vashem, the State of Israels official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, as Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to provide assistance to Jews during the Nazi period; and

WHEREAS, There were Polish individuals and groups in Nazi-occupied Poland who committed crimes against Jews; and

WHEREAS, The new legislation in Poland, which says in part, Whoever claims, publicly and contrary to the facts, that the Polish Nation or the Republic of Poland is responsible or co-responsible for Nazi crimes committed by the Third Reich... or for other felonies that constitute crimes against peace, crimes against humanity or war crimes, or whoever otherwise grossly diminishes the responsibility of the true perpetrators of said crimes shall be liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to three years, may limit the ability to convey the full story of what transpired during the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, there were thousands of Jews who died not at the hands of Nazi Germans but of their fellow Poles, as was the case in the town of Jedwabne, Poland, on July 10, 1941; and

WHEREAS, While the new controversial law in Poland does not apply to research or artistic expression, the lines of distinction may be unclear, thereby suppressing the search for truth and legitimate conversations about history; and

WHEREAS, The State of California supports the efforts of the Polish government to fight the usage of the term Polish death camps, which is historically inaccurate and hurtful;

WHEREAS, The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland is reviewing the new law; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California urges lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise the new controversial Polish law on speech related to the Holocaust so that open discussion and a thorough examination of what occurred during the Nazi German occupation of Poland can take place; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 35

Author:(Levine)

As Amended Ver:April 26, 2018

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Calls on Congress to urges lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise a recent Polish law on speech related to the Holocaust and calls for a renewed commitment to Holocaust education in California. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Beginning with the Nazi German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and throughout the course of the Nazi occupation, the Polish people suffered immensely at the hands of the Nazis, resulting in the death of millions of innocent Polish people during World War II.
2. The Polish government was in exile at the time of the Holocaust; and it was Nazi Germany that engineered and perpetrated the murder of six million Jews, nearly half of them Polish Jews, largely through Nazi extermination camps in occupied Poland.
3. The Polish people showed undeniable bravery in resisting the occupying forces. There were thousands of Poles, recognized by Yad Vashem, the State of Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, as Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to provide assistance to Jews during the Nazi period.
4. The recent enactment of legislation by the Parliament of Poland, signed by President Andrzej Duda, criminalizes certain speech concerning the Polish nation's and the Polish state's responsibility and role in crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi German occupation of Poland.
5. While the new law does not apply to research or artistic expression, the lines of distinction may be unclear, thereby suppressing the search for truth and legitimate conversations about history.
6. The State of California supports the efforts of the Polish government to fight the usage of the term "Polish death camps," which is historically inaccurate and hurtful. The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland is reviewing the new law.
7. Since 2002, the Legislature has held an annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, which includes honoring California residents who are Holocaust survivors and hearing their powerful stories on the floor of the Assembly.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 FN: 0002929

Date of Hearing: May 14, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON

, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:

Author:() – As Ver:

SUBJECT: Polish law: Holocaust speech

SUMMARY: Calls on Congress to urges lawmakers in Poland to reverse or revise a recent Polish law on speech related to the Holocaust and calls for a renewed commitment to Holocaust education in California. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Beginning with the Nazi German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and throughout the course of the Nazi occupation, the Polish people suffered immensely at the hands of the Nazis, resulting in the death of millions of innocent Polish people during World War II.
2. The Polish government was in exile at the time of the Holocaust; and it was Nazi Germany that engineered and perpetrated the murder of six million Jews, nearly half of them Polish Jews, largely through Nazi extermination camps in occupied Poland.
3. The Polish people showed undeniable bravery in resisting the occupying forces. There were thousands of Poles, recognized by Yad Vashem, the State of Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, as Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to provide assistance to Jews during the Nazi period.
4. The recent enactment of legislation by the Parliament of Poland, signed by President Andrzej Duda, criminalizes certain speech concerning the Polish nation’s and the Polish state’s responsibility and role in crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi German occupation of Poland.
5. While the new law does not apply to research or artistic expression, the lines of distinction may be unclear, thereby suppressing the search for truth and legitimate conversations about history.
6. The State of California supports the efforts of the Polish government to fight the usage of the term “Polish death camps,” which is historically inaccurate and hurtful. The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland is reviewing the new law.
7. Since 2002, the Legislature has held an annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, which includes honoring California residents who are Holocaust survivors and hearing their powerful stories on the floor of the Assembly.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: