MPO Advocacy

California Assembly Adopts Pro-Macedonian Resolution

On June 10, 2004, the California State Assembly adopted Assembly Joint Resolution No. 52 stating that the "Legislature of the State of California supports the rights of Macedonians living throughout the Balkans to speak their language, to attend schools and churches offered in their language, to practice their customs, to be able to call themselves Macedonians, and to be granted all the civil and human rights required by international law."

The resolution was adopted as a result of the hard work and dedication of the members of MPO "Brothers Miladinov," the MPO's Local Chapter in Southern California. Specifically the efforts of Jordan Atzeff, Sandy Zajack and Dr. George Georgieff were instrumental in obtaining adoption of the resolution.

Motivated by the passage of ant-Macedonian resolution in the California legislature that was introduced by a Greek-American member from the Oakland area and this member's belligerence and insults directed towards Mr. Atzeff, Ms. Zajack and, indeed, all Macedonian people, when they contacted him to discuss the impropriety of his anti-Macedonian resolution, the members of MPO "Brothers Miladinov" worked closely with Assemblyman Lou Correa to secure the adoption of Joint Resolution No. 52. Unlike his irrational colleague, Assemblyman Correa recognized the importance of supporting cultural diversity and the civil and human rights for all people and sponsored Joint Resolution No. 52. In so doing, Assemblyman Correa restored the faith of Macedonian-Americans in California in their elected officials and in our democratic process.