89R20640 TBO-D
By: Romero H.R. No. 615
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, March 21, 2025, marks the 219th anniversary of the
birth of Benito Juárez, a revered statesman and national hero of
Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Benito Juárez rose from humble beginnings to become
the first Indigenous president of Mexico and served five terms,
spanning two civil wars; born in 1806 to Zapotec Indian parents, he
graduated from the Franciscan seminary in Oaxaca and earned a law
degree from the Institute of Sciences and Arts; he supported
Indigenous rights from the very beginning of his career in
government, as a member of the Oaxaca city council; and
WHEREAS, After winning election to the national Chamber of
Deputies, Mr. Juárez helped draft the transformational
Constitution of 1857, which abolished slavery and granted complete
equality under the law; it protected individual Mexicans with a
bill of rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and the
press; one provision of that charter, known as the Ley Juárez,
drastically limited the power and privilege of the Catholic Church
and the military; and
WHEREAS, Conservatives rebelled against democratization, but
President Juárez led liberal forces to victory in the War of the
Reform; he then triumphed over foreign occupation in a second war,
known as the French Intervention, securing the future of the
Republic; his leadership ushered in a period known as La Reforma,
the Reform, a political and social revolution that brought about
the expropriation of church lands, the subordination of the army to
civilian control, and the separation of church and state in public
affairs; President Juárez died in office in 1872, and 16 years
later, the city of El Paso del Norte was renamed Ciudad Juárez in
his honor; and
WHEREAS, Benito Juárez is justly revered as one of Mexico's
greatest heroes, and every March, a national holiday reminds
citizens of the vital role he played in the history of the Americas;
his famous words, "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz," or
"Respect for the rights of others is peace," continue to inspire
individuals across the globe to promote the principles of diplomacy
and coexistence; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and legacy of Benito
Juárez and commemorate the 219th anniversary of his birth.