PRINTER'S NO. 3210
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 459
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SANCHEZ, MAYES, HILL-EVANS,
KINSEY, GIRAL, VITALI, T. DAVIS, KHAN, BELLMON AND KIM,
JUNE 3, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 3, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2024 as "Haitian Heritage Month" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Haiti is the third largest Caribbean country and the
4 first Black Republic in the world; and
5 WHEREAS, When Haitians gained independence, they renamed
6 their country to its native Taino name of Ayiti, or "Land of
7 Mountains"; and
8 WHEREAS, From 1791 to 1804, Haitians led a revolution against
9 French colonialists that ultimately resulted in their
10 independence; and
11 WHEREAS, Haiti was also the first nation to permanently ban
12 slavery, largely contributing to Great Britain's decision to
13 abolish the transatlantic slave trade; and
14 WHEREAS, The Haitian flag was adopted on May 18, 1803, to
15 symbolize the "pride, resilience, and spirit of the Haitian
16 people in their fight for freedom and independence"; and
17 WHEREAS, Haiti has supported the independence of countries
 1 such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Greece; and
2 WHEREAS, As a result of Haiti's support of liberation in
3 other countries, many nations have paid homage to Haiti by using
4 the Haitian flag as a model for their own flags; and
5 WHEREAS, By forcing Napoleon Bonaparte to sell what is now
6 the state of Louisiana, the Haitian Revolution led to the
7 Louisiana Purchase and territorial expansion of the United
8 States; and
9 WHEREAS, The cultural influence of Haitians on United States
10 society and culture has only grown since Haitians first started
11 emigrating to the United States in 1790; and
12 WHEREAS, As of 2020, there were approximately 1 million
13 Haitian individuals residing in the United States, including
14 those born in Haiti and of Haitian descent; and
15 WHEREAS, "Haitian Heritage Month" is an extension of "Haitian
16 Flag Day" on May 18, a day that encourages patriotism in Haiti
17 and the diaspora; and
18 WHEREAS, "Haitian Heritage Month" is recognized across the
19 globe and serves as an opportunity to celebrate the culture,
20 art, cuisine and traditions of Haiti and its people; therefore
21 be it
22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
23 month of May 2024 as "Haitian Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.
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