LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 205th Anniversary of Colombia's
Declaration of Independence on July 20, 2015

WHEREAS, Colombia is the only overland gateway joining North and Central
America with South America; and
WHEREAS, Native Colombians, African people, and Spanish settlers
contributed to the "cultural melting pot" of what is today Colombia; and
WHEREAS, After centuries under Spanish colonial rule characterized by
political uprisings, cultural and religious influence, and the emergence
of new social classes, Colombia's independence process started on July
20, 1810; and
WHEREAS, On that day, the citizens of Bogota created the first repre-
sentative council leading to what would become Colombia's first national
government; and
WHEREAS, Though this revolutionary movement was only the beginning of
Colombia's process of independence, it was a crucial turning point for
the nation's social cohesion and much of Latin America; and
WHEREAS, Led by Simon Bolivar, complete victory over the Spanish was
declared in August of 1819; and
WHEREAS, Today, Colombia is often recognized as Latin America's oldest
democracy; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body would like to recognize that New York
is home to many Colombians and Colombian-Americans and would like to
join them in celebrating Colombia's Independence Day; now, therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 205th Anniversary of Colombia's Declaration of Independ-
ence, on July 20, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Maria Isabel Nieto Jaramillo, Consul General of Colombia in
New York, and to New York's various Colombian organizations.