Honor Venezuela Independence Day

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.