LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 203rd Independence Day of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on July 5, 2014

WHEREAS, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the site of the first
permanent Spanish settlement in South America -- Nuevo Toledo -- estab-
lished in 1522; and
WHEREAS, While it was the first permanent settlement, it was also one
of the most neglected as Spain sought more profitable resources such as
silver and gold from other areas of the Americas; and
WHEREAS, Riots, uprisings, rebellions and insurrections were common
during the 16th Century through the 19th Century as Spanish rule proved
to be overly oppressive and exploitive of the people native to Venezue-
la; and
WHEREAS, In 1810, while Napoleon continued to wage war upon Spain
under Ferdinand VII, Venezuelan revolutionaries began a revolution to
win independence from Spain; and
WHEREAS, April 19, 1810, marked the start of the revolution for Vene-
zuelan Independence; on that day, a forceful dismissal of Spanish Gener-
al Captain Vincente Emparan was followed by the establishment of the
Junta of Caracas; and
WHEREAS, On April 19, 1811, Venezuelan Independence was proclaimed by
the Junta; and
WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 5, 1811,
and a congress was assembled with the purpose of writing a Constitution
for the new republic; and
WHEREAS, Sovereignty of Venezuela was attained in 1821, under the
leadership of Simon Bolivar, one of the most celebrated individuals in
Venezuela and Latin America; and
WHEREAS, Bolivar is revered by many as a revolutionary hero, vision-
ary, and liberator; he freed not only Venezuela but what are today Boli-
via, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru; and
WHEREAS, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela did not officially form
until 1830 after a separation from Gran Colombia in 1830, following the
resignation and untimely death of Simon Bolivar; and
WHEREAS, Many Venezuelans have made New York their home, and this
Legislative Body is justly proud to thank the Venezuelan people for
their contributions to this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 203rd Independence Day of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela on July 5, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Consulate General of Venezuela in New York.