2024 -- S 3129

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LC006169

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T 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: Senators Cano, Acosta, Felag, Ujifusa, Gu, Picard, McKenney, F.
Lombardi, Britto, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: June 04, 2024

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     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 Senate 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.

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