Senate Resolution No. 2939

BY: Senator PERALTA

COMMEMORATING the 206th Independence Day of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on July 5, 2017

WHEREAS, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the site of the
first permanent Spanish settlement in South America -- Nuevo Toledo --
established 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
Venezuela; 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
Venezuelan Independence; on that day, a forceful dismissal of Spanish
General 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,
visionary, and liberator; he freed not only Venezuela but what are today
Bolivia, 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 206th Independence Day of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela on July 5, 2017; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Consulate General of Venezuela in New York.