| R 372 |
| 2024 -- H 8351 Enacted 06/10/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING THE 214TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLOMBIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JULY 20TH OF 2024 |
Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Giraldo, Chippendale, Batista, Hull, Stewart, Voas, and Cruz |
| Date Introduced: June 10, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, In 1499, the Spanish arrived in what is now Colombia and founded the first |
| permanent settlement in 1510, as part of Spain's colonial empire in the Americas; and |
| WHEREAS, In the 1800s, as Napoleon began invading many European countries, |
| including Spain, patriots in Colombia and all over South America rose in rebellion against their |
| Spanish rulers; and |
| WHEREAS, Cartagena, first declared its independence from Spain before the actual |
| country itself did so. Eventually, when Bogotá rebelled on July 20th, 1810, the Vice Royalty of |
| New Granada was forced to grant a temporary independence from Spain, which became the first |
| step in the process of Colombia earning permanent independence, and culminated with the Battle |
| of Boyacá in 1819, where Simón Bolívar triumphantly liberated New Granada, which is now |
| Colombia, and secured the eventual independence of northern South America; and |
| WHEREAS, Today, Independence Day in Colombia is celebrated with parades and |
| marches throughout the country, much like the 4th of July is celebrated in the United States; and |
| WHEREAS, Colombia's Independence Day falls only a couple weeks after America's |
| Independence Day celebration, which is relevant and fitting because the two nations have so |
| much in common; and |
| WHEREAS, Both the United States and Colombia gained their independence through |
| patriots rallying against a distant monarchy, and the first President of each new country was the |
| General who had united the people during its liberation; and |
| WHEREAS, Both countries were also built on the premise that liberty is an unalienable |
| right and both have a deep commitment to a more peaceful world; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| joins our Colombian American friends and neighbors in commemorating and celebrating |
| Colombia's 214 years of Independence on July 20th of 2024; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Colombian American Cultural Society |
| (CACS) and Colombia en Rhode Island. |
| ======== |
| LC006247 |
| ======== |