On March 1, 1896, the Ethiopian army trounced colonial Italian forces from Eritrea at the battle of Adwa. Through shrewd military tactics and strategy, Ethiopia rebuffed the Italian effort at colonization. The battle allowed Ethiopia to secure a treaty, which made Italy renounce its supposed “claim” to Ethiopia and reduce its colonial presence in neighboring Eritrea.
 
In a time where European dominance over Africa seemed inevitable, Ethiopia did the unthinkable by defending its independence. Because of this, Ethiopia holds the distinction of being one of the only African nations to remain independent and sovereign, never being colonized, and officially recognized by global powers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. To commemorate the 130th anniversary of the victory of Adwa, I am introducing a resolution recognizing March 2, 2026, as “Adwa Victory Day” in Pennsylvania.
 
By celebrating Adwa Victory Day, we pay homage to and celebrate the rich history of American Ethiopians and the African diaspora’s struggle against colonialism. I invite you to co-sponsor this resolution to demonstrate our Commonwealth’s commitment to denouncing colonialism and celebrating multiculturalism.