New York K 437: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2025 as Haitian Heritage Month in the State of New York

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K00437 Summary:

BILL NOK00437 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORBichotte Hermelyn

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSRAlvarez, Cunningham, De Los Santos, Forrest, Gonzalez-Rojas, Griffin, Hyndman, Lucas, Mitaynes,
 Rozic, Santabarbara, Shrestha, Taylor, Vanel, Wieder

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top K00437 Actions:

BILL NOK00437 

&nbsp

05/05/2025referred to calendar

05/06/2025adopted

Go to topK00437 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topK00437 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topK00437 Text:

Assembly Resolution No. 437

BY: M. of A. Bichotte Hermelyn

 MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
 May 2025 as Haitian Heritage Month in the State of
 New York

 WHEREAS, Haitian Heritage Month, recognized globally during the
month of May, celebrates the rich culture of Haiti and its people,
including their history, language, distinctive art, delicious foods, and
cuisines; and

 WHEREAS, The purpose of the month is to raise awareness and
understanding about Haitian culture, history, and traditions, educate
others about the historical contributions Haitian people have made to
the United States and to the world, and celebrate these Haitian
achievements across the globe; and

 WHEREAS, Haiti's history is of vital significance and pride for its
people and has crucial global importance, representing a new concept of
human rights, universal citizenship, and participation in government
through the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804); and

 WHEREAS, The Haitian Revolution is one of the largest, and the first
successful, slave rebellions in the Western Hemisphere, starting with
the founding act of the Revolution by Dutty Boukman, a slave transferred
from British colonial Jamaica to French colonial Saint-Domingue; he was
a Houngan, or Vodou priest, who led the ceremony of Bois Caiman on the
night of August 14, 1791; and

 WHEREAS, In 1793, Toussaint L'Ouverture, a former slave of the
French colony, who was born with the name Francois Dominique Toussaint,
was a Haitian General who led the success of enslaved Africans gaining
autonomy in Saint-Domingue, now known as Haiti; and

 WHEREAS, Jean Jacques Dessalines, a former slave, lead a mighty
group of Haitians, Africans, and Blacks during the Haitian Revolution as
General; he emerged after Toussaint L'Overture was captured, defeating
Napoleon Bonaparte and the French colonists at the Battle of Vertieres
at the end of 1803, and became the first Black ruler of the first
independent Black republic in the world; and

 WHEREAS, Henry Christophe became Toussaint Louverture's Chief
Lieutenant, fighting the French, British, and the Spaniards, and later
became President of Haiti in 1806 where he introduced a monetary system,
declared Catholicism as the State religion, and established schools and
hospitals, including a basic school of medicine; and

 WHEREAS, The Haitian flag was designed by Jean Jacques Dessalines
and was adopted on May 18, 1803, at the Congress of Arcahaie which was
held to establish the united command of the Revolutionary Army under the
supreme authority of Jean-Jacques Dessalines; and

 WHEREAS, Haitian Heritage Month is an expansion of Haitian Flag Day,
a national Haitian holiday celebrated annually on May 18th, serving as a

major patriotic celebration in Haiti and the diaspora to encourage
patriotism; and

 WHEREAS, Haitian Flag Day is a reminder of the struggle for freedom,
and the Haitian flag symbolizes the unity that had borne the Haitian
nation; and

 WHEREAS, The independence of Haiti echoes the importance of women
and women of color in building independent nations, through
revolutionaries like Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniere, who fought as a soldier
in the Indigenous Army, and Catherine Flon who, like Betsy Ross, is
credited with crafting the independent Black Republic of Haiti flag in
1803 and serving as a nurse; and

 WHEREAS, Haitian culinary dishes, such as Soup Joumou, a soup
Haitian slaves were forbidden to eat, as it was "reserved for their
white masters," have become symbols for Haitian freedom; Haiti has a
vast variety of unique local food, now enjoyed throughout the world,
such as griot (fried pork), diri djon djon (black rice), plantains,
grenadia juice, and rhum; and

 WHEREAS, Haitians continue to produce the