R 006
2022 -- H 7038
Enacted 01/11/2022

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

     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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LC003752
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