Senate adopts resolutions marking Holocaust Remembrance, Rosie the Riveter Day, apprenticeship week, Vietnamese American Remembrance; observes Denim Day

The California State Senate on April 30 adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rosie the Riveter Day, National Apprenticeship Week and Vietnamese American Remembrance Day and recognized Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Senators spoke from the floor about the historical and contemporary significance of each observance, survivors and family members were introduced for public acknowledgement, and the chamber recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous roll call votes to adopt each resolution.

Senate concurrent resolution 46 (SCR 46), introduced by Senator Wiener on behalf of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, designates a state observance for Holocaust Memorial Day and urged expanded Holocaust and genocide education in schools. “Never again is not a passive statement,” Senator Wiener said on the floor, adding his caucus had distributed Martin Niemoller’s poem, “First they came,” to members’ offices to emphasize the civic imperative of remembering and resisting dehumanization. The resolution passed (Ayes: 37; No: 0).

Senate concurrent resolution 24 (SCR 24), authored by Senator Alvarado‑Gill, recognizes March 21, 2025, as Rosie the Riveter Day in California and honors the World War II-era women whose labor reshaped labor participation and social expectations. Alvarado‑Gill noted the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park in Richmond and introduced several living Rosies and family members to the chamber. The resolution passed (Ayes: 38; No: 0).

Senate concurrent resolution 55 (SCR 55), presented by Senator Nilo, declares April 27–May 3 apprenticeship week in California and highlights registered apprenticeship programs as pathways to careers that combine on‑the‑job training with classroom instruction. Senator Ochoa Bog and others pointed to apprenticeship pipelines in construction, energy and healthcare; the resolution passed (Ayes: 38; No: 0).

Senate concurrent resolution 63 (SCR 63), carried by Senator Wahab, commemorates April 30 as a day of remembrance for the fall of Saigon in 1975 and recognizes the contributions of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian refugee communities in California. Members including Senator Umberg and others recounted the local, cultural and economic contributions of those communities; the resolution passed (Ayes: 38; No: 0).

Senate Resolution 14 (SR 14), carried by Senator Cervantes, designates April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 30 as Denim Day, a symbolic protest against the 1998 Italian court decision that blamed a survivor’s clothing. The resolution and floor remarks emphasized survivor support and recent state reforms to limit use of clothing as evidence of consent; the resolution passed (Ayes: 38; No: 0).

Votes at a glance

- SCR 46 (Wiener) — California Holocaust Memorial Day. Outcome: Adopted. Vote: Ayes 37, No 0. - SCR 24 (Alvarado‑Gill) — Rosie the Riveter Day (March 21, 2025). Outcome: Adopted. Vote: Ayes 38, No 0. - SCR 55 (Nilo) — Apprenticeship Week (April 27–May 3). Outcome: Adopted. Vote: Ayes 38, No 0. - SCR 63 (Wahab) — Vietnamese American Remembrance Day (acknowledging April 30, 1975). Outcome: Adopted. Vote: Ayes 38, No 0. - SR 14 (Cervantes) — Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day (April 30). Outcome: Adopted. Vote: Ayes 38, No 0.

Who spoke and what was emphasized

- Senator Wiener (co‑chair, California Legislative Jewish Caucus) framed the Holocaust remembrance resolution as a civic duty and cited the caucus’s distribution of the Niemoller poem to members; he warned against normalization of antisemitism and urged broader Holocaust education, saying, “Never again is not a passive statement.”

- Senator Becker (vice chair, Legislative Jewish Caucus) and Senator Smallwood‑Cuevas (on behalf of the Legislative Black Caucus) highlighted the multipronged harms of hatred and the need for solidarity across communities.

- Senator Alvarado‑Gill (author, SCR 24) introduced surviving Rosies and representatives of the Rosie the Riveter Trust; speakers recalled the wartime shift in women’s employment and the museum and park in Richmond that preserve that history.

- Senator Nilo (author, SCR 55) and Senator Ochoa Bog discussed apprenticeship programs as “earn‑while‑you‑learn” pathways that connect training to local industry needs in sectors such as construction, energy and healthcare.

- Senator Wahab (author, SCR 63) and Senator Umberg recalled the fall of Saigon and the refugee journeys that followed, noting the contributions of Vietnamese Americans in cities across California.

- Senator Cervantes (author, SR 14) outlined Denim Day’s origin and urged continued legal and policy reforms to support survivors; several colleagues recounted state steps taken to remove “clothing as evidence” and to adopt affirmative‑consent standards on college campuses.

Other formal actions and introductions

The floor proceeded to privileges of the floor after votes, and senators introduced honorees and survivors. Among those recognized were George Elbaum, Jeanette Ringgold, Ava Bretler and others who were introduced and thanked for sharing their histories with students and the public.

Why this matters

These resolutions are ceremonial—commemorating histories, promoting public education and recognizing community contributions—but senators used the occasion to link remembrance with current policy concerns: Holocaust and genocide education in schools, workforce development and apprenticeships as alternatives to four‑year degrees, refugee integration and the ongoing need to protect and support survivors of sexual assault. The unanimous (or near‑unanimous) roll calls reflect broad chamber support for the commemorations and related calls for civic and educational follow‑up.

What’s next

The Senate recessed following floor introductions and routine business; members noted upcoming committee meetings and additional floor business in subsequent sessions. Several senators urged constituents and local officials to use the recognized observances as opportunities for public education and local commemorations.