The State of California proclaimed today May 29 as Azores Day, adopting a resolution that acknowledges and values the contribution of Azoreans to the development of this state.
The resolution was unanimously adopted in two successive sessions held by the Legislative Assembly and Senate at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
The vice-president of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, who is on an official visit to the United States of America, attended the two sessions on behalf of the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, and welcomed the “important initiative of the State of California that honours” the Region.
This was the first time that both legislative chambers of the State of California, which represent 40 million inhabitants, approved an initiative concerning the Azores in the presence of a member of the Regional Government.
The resolution honoring Azores Day, Portugal Day and Portuguese Heritage Month in the State of California was proposed by two legislators of Azorean descent: Senator Henry Stern and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
The document recalls that the first Portuguese settlers came to California from the Azorean Islands in the early 19th century, but that the two largest waves of Azorean immigrants occurred at the beginning of the 20th century, especially between 1958 and 1976. As also stated in the document, “each contributed substantially to the establishment of agricultural operations, namely dairy products, livestock, horticulture, fruit farms and the tuna industry in the southern part of the State.”
According to the approved Resolution, ” California has been a historically popular destination for immigrants from the Azores Islands, creating strong cultural ties between both regions.” Currently, “more than 350 thousand people of Portuguese descent live in California, about 90% of whom came directly from the Azores or are of Azorean descent.”
Before attending the two sessions, the Vice-President of the Regional Government began the official programme of his visit with a meeting with the President Pro-Tempore of the California Senate, Toni G. Atkins.
Both politicians exchanged views on the importance of Azoreans in the Portuguese community in California and expressed their common desire for greater cooperation between this State and the Region.
Artur Lima’s visit to California also includes a meeting with Portuguese elected officials and community leaders in Sacramento, the opening of the “Portuguese Dairy Mural Wall” monument in Tiburon and the participation in the celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and Portuguese Communities in San José, including the celebration of the anniversary of the Luso American Education Foundation.
