LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the celebration of Cinco de Mayo,
May 5, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those events
which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of the cultural diver-
sity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to this concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo is a date of importance for the Mexican and
Chicano communities; it marks the victory of the Mexican army over the
French at the Battle of Puebla; and
WHEREAS, The "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican
unity and patriotism; with this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the
world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend them-
selves from any foreign intervention, especially those from imperialist
states bent on world conquest; and
WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French occupa-
tion of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium
in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period
of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would
resume; and
WHEREAS, The English, Spanish and French refused to allow President
Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments
by whatever means necessary; the Spanish and English eventually with-
drew, but the French refused to leave; and
WHEREAS, On May 5, 1862, the French army began its advance; under
General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, 5,000 Mestizo and Zapotec Indians
defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de
Puebla" on the fifth of May; and
WHEREAS, A year later, the French occupied Mexico; the French occupy-
ing forces placed Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, on the throne of
Mexico in 1864; the French, under pressure from the United States, even-
tually withdrew in 1866-1867; Maximilian was deposed by President Benito
Juarez and executed, five years after the Battle of Puebla; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Puebla was significant in that the 4,000 Mexi-
can soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the French army of 8,000 that
had not been defeated for almost 50 years; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be
known as simply "5 de Mayo"; and
WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States with
parades, folkloric dancing, and other types of festive activities; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of Cinco de Mayo has contributed to the Mexi-
can-American experience and to the preservation and enhancement of the
Mexican culture and heritage, adding so much to the rich mosaic of which
our great State and Nation are comprised; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2014.