Whereas, on March 31, 2017, the Virgin Islands of the United States will commemorate 100 years of being a part of the United States; Whereas the Virgin Islands of the United States will use this anniversary, in part, to commemorate its history, culture, and diversity; Whereas one of the earliest historical accounts of the Virgin Islands of the United States was in 1493, when Carib inhabitants on St. Croix engaged Christopher Columbus on his second voyage, in what is considered the first insurgence against European colonization in the New World; Whereas the three largest islands of the Virgin Islands of the United States were ruled by at least six sovereigns over the past 500 years; Whereas Denmark began its acquisition of the islands that were to become known as the Danish West Indies with the founding of its first permanent colony on the island of St. Thomas in 1665, to be followed by the island of St. John in 1717, and the island of St. Croix in 1733; Whereas, during a 250-year span of history, Denmark colonized those three islands as a part of the sugar trade, which included participation in the transatlantic slave trade and a plantation-based system that subjugated slaves; Whereas significant hardships were endured by enslaved Africans during the period of European colonial rule, which precipitated the 1733 revolution on St. John, the 1848 insurrection and emancipation declaration signed by Danish Governor Peter von Scholten, the 1878 rebellion on St. Croix known as the Fireburn , and the 1892 coal workers’ strike on St. Thomas; Whereas, by the spirit of resistance, enslaved African heroes like General Buddhoe, Anna Hegaard, the Queens Mary, Agnes, Matilda, Bottom Belly , and Coziah, and other leaders were able to liberate themselves and emancipate the African people; Whereas an islandwide slave insurrection on St. Croix in July of 1848 resulted in the official abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies