Declare Colombian Heritage Day

July 20, 2025, as Colombian Independence Day in the State of New York, on the 215th Anniversary of Colombian Independence 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 memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 20, 2025, as Colombian Independence Day in the State of New York, on the 215th Anniversary of Colombian Independence; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York; and to the Consulate General of Colombia in New York.