 
Assembly Resolution No. 607
 
BY: M. of A. Cruz
 
        COMMEMORATING   the   198th   Anniversary  of  the
        Independence of Peru
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
pay  just  tribute  to  the cultural heritage of the ethnic groups which
comprise and contribute to the richness and diversity of  the  community
of the State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and  in  keeping  with  its
time-honored traditions, it is the intent of this  Legislative  Body  to
commemorate  the 198th Anniversary of the formal Independence of Peru to
be celebrated on Peruvian Cultural Day in New York at the  Corona  Plaza
in Corona, New York, on Saturday, July 27, 2019; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  history of the Peruvian people dates back to as early
as  10,000  BC  and  the  oldest  complex  civilization,  Norte   Chico,
flourished along the coast of the Pacific between 3000 and 1800 BC; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Later  cultures  emerged  including the Cipisnique, Chimu,
Wari, Chavin, Paracas, Mochica, Nazca as well as the Incas  who  in  the
15th  Century  formed the most powerful empire in Pre-Columbian America;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  Peru,  a  Spanish  Viceroyalty  since  1535,  was  notably
exploited  for its rich mineral deposits and guano used for fertilizers;
and
 
  WHEREAS, By the early 19th Century, most South American  territories
were  swept  by  wars  of  independence,  while  the  powerful  colonial
government of the Viceroyalty of Peru remained loyal to Spain,  only  to
be  challenged by the military campaigns for independence led by Jose de
San Martin and later, Simon Bolivar; and
 
  WHEREAS, The revolutionary army led by San Martin was  much  smaller
than  that of royalist forces, so a direct attack on the Spanish was not
a prudent move; and
 
  WHEREAS, The revolution strategy consisted of  the  Peruvian  people
conducting the uprisings themselves while the revolutionary forces began
to organize a new Peruvian government; and
 
  WHEREAS,  On  February  21, 1821, Jose de San Martin promulgated the
Provisional Rules, a set of legal guarantees for Peruvian  citizens;  on
July  28,  1821,  the  army  led  by  San  Martin  took  over  Lima  and
independence from Spain was finally proclaimed; the new Peru  named  San
Martin their "Protector" and their ruler; and
 
  WHEREAS,  On  July  26,  1822,  San Martin met with Simon Bolivar at
Guayaquil to plan the future of Latin America; the separation from Spain
culminated in 1824, resulting from the Battles of  Junin  and  Ayachcho;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  Peruvians  immigrated  to  the United States in four major
waves; small but  significant  waves  of  immigration  occurred  in  San
Francisco during the gold rush, and the Metro Detroit area in the 1950s;
another  wave  of  immigration occurred again early in the 20th Century,
due  largely  to  the  burgeoning  textile  industry in New York and New
Jersey; and
 
  WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, another wave of  Peruvians  arrived
in  the  United States, most of whom were fleeing Peru's government; the
1980s and 1990s saw the most significant influx of Peruvians  to  United
States  shores,  this time in response to political instability and to a
collapsing economy in Peru; and
 
  WHEREAS, Despite being a relatively recent ethnic group, the  median
household  income  for  Peruvians  meets  the average American household
income, and 30% of all  Peruvians  over  the  age  of  25  have  college
degrees, exceeding the United States' national average of 24%; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Many  Peruvians  have  made  New York their home, and this
Legislative Body is justly proud to thank the Peruvian people for  their
contributions  to  this  great Empire State; currently, 40,477 Peruvians
live in New York City, with 25,110 living in Queens; and
 
  WHEREAS, The 198th Anniversary of the independence of Peru  provides
an  opportunity  to recognize the significance of their contributions to
the quality and character of life, and, through events  and  activities,
for  all  people  to gain a greater appreciation of Peruvian history and
traditions, and of the role Peruvians have played, and will continue  to
play, in our society; and
 
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity
to recognize such events of significance which foster ethnic  pride  and
exemplify  the  cultural  diversity  that represents and strengthens the
fabric of the people and the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 198th Anniversary of the Independence of Peru; and be it
further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Marita Landaveri, Consul General of Peru, New York.
Commemorating the 198th Anniversary of the Independence of Peru

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