R 243

2020 -- H 8109 Enacted 07/16/2020

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 210TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLOMBIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JULY 20TH OF 2020

Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, Giraldo, Shekarchi, Johnston, and Filippi

Date Introduced: July 16, 2020

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 210 years of Independence on July 20th of 2020; 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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LC005496

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