Assembly Resolution No. 1417

BY: M. of A. Fernandez

COMMEMORATING the 208th Anniversary of the
Colombian Independence on July 20, 2018

WHEREAS, New Granada was a colony under traditional Spanish rule;
and

WHEREAS, In 1809, Camilo Torres Tenorio wrote his famous Memorial de
Agravios, "Remembrance of Offenses," to the Spanish monarchy; and

WHEREAS, Camilo Torres Tenorio criticized the Spanish Monarchy's
policy of excluding Creoles from esteemed positions in the American
colonies; Tenorio alleged that their rights to govern in their homelands
is "the offspring of the conquistadores"; and

WHEREAS, New Granada felt neglected and abused as a colony of the
Spanish, especially with a figurehead, placed by Napoleon Bonaparte, who
sat on the throne; and

WHEREAS, On the morning of July 20, 1810, patriots in Bogota, a
holdout for Spanish rule, offered a flower vase as an act of good will
to Spanish merchant Joaquin Gonzalez Llorente to beautify a table for a
celebration in honor of Antonio Villavicencio, a well-known patriot
sympathizer; and

WHEREAS, Joaquin Camacho visited the palace of the Viceroy, Antonio
Jose Amar y Borbon, the same morning to request an open council in hopes
of establishing equality for the Creole population; and

WHEREAS, Both offers were denied, and an uproar broke out amongst
the populace for representation and equality; and

WHEREAS, Viceroy Antonio Jose Amar y Borbon signed an act the very
same day which permitted a local ruling council, which eventually paved
the way to independence; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
great contributions which Colombians, such as photographer Miguel Gomez,
mathematician Guillermo Owens, and fashion icon Nina Garcia, have
brought to our State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 208th Anniversary of the Independence of Colombia on
July 20, 1810; and be it further

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