2022 -- H 7038

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 218TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF

HAITIAN INDEPENDENCE ON JANUARY 1, 2022

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Giraldo, Hull, Henries, Alzate, Biah,
Blazejewski, Batista, Filippi, and Felix

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, On January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence from France to become

the world’s first black republic and the second democracy in the world after the United States;

and

     WHEREAS, The Haitian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed by Jean-Jacques

Dessalines, culminating with the end of the thirteen year Haitian Revolution and resulting in Haiti

becoming the first independent nation in Latin America; and

     WHEREAS, The Haitian Declaration of Independence was the first successful revolution

of enslaved people in world history; and

     WHEREAS, Prior to this historic event, Freemen from the French colony of Saint

Domingue, now the Republic of Haiti, had fought alongside the United States Continental Army;

and

     WHEREAS, Major Joseph Savary, a Haitian, was the first black Major in the United

States Army and led the Second Battalion of Freeman of Color at the Battle of New Orleans; and

     WHEREAS, Frederick Douglass, the foremost spokesman on human rights and the anti-

slavery movement in the United States, was named the first United States Minister and Consul-

General to Haiti in 1889; and

     WHEREAS, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian, built the first permanent settlement

of what would later become the City of Chicago; and

     WHEREAS, The culture of Haiti is an amalgamation of African, Taino, the indigenous

people of the Caribbean, and European elements, primarily French, that has produced world-

famous art, cuisine, music and dance; and

     WHEREAS, Many people from Haiti and their descendants have contributed greatly to

the arts and sciences in the United States, such as W.E.B. DuBois, the Haitian-American author

and political activist, who was one of the most prestigious and prominent intellectual leaders of

African-American society and all of the United States in the 20th century; and

     WHEREAS, An estimated 1.2 million people of Haitian descent currently live in the

United States. The close proximity to American shores, in conjunction with our common bond of

mutual values and commitment to democracy and equality, ensures lasting comity and continued

trade and diplomatic relations; and

     WHEREAS, An estimated eight thousand people of Haitian decent came to live in Rhode

Island; and

     WHEREAS, Councilperson Aniece Germain of Cranston, has become the first person of

Haitian descent to be elected to a public office in Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

joyously celebrates the 218th Anniversary of Haitian Independence; 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 His Excellency, Bocchit Edmond, Ambassador

of the Republic of Haiti in the United States, and to the Honorable Councilperson Aniece

Germain of Cranston.

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