Following the historic vote at the Italian Parliament and in the city of Genoa, and all of the hard work conducted by the Italian American communities all around the US, the Italian Pride student organization asks Drexel University to reconsider their decision of removing Columbus Day and to work with the Italian community at Drexel to establish an inclusive environment to celebrate our heritage as well.

The time-honored Columbus Day celebrations were launched in the late 1800s as Italian immigrants attempted to create a sense of self-esteem and dignity during a period where they were subjected to lynching, bigotry and discrimination throughout the U.S. The establishment of Columbus Day as a national holiday was due to the anti-Italian and anti-immigrant discrimination plague happening in the US.