On July 5, 1811, Venezuela became the first colony in the Americas to proclaim its independence from Spain, fundamentally reshaping world history in the struggles that followed.
 
Venezuela’s long war for independence was marked by extraordinary courage and sacrifice. After joining with present-day Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador to form the Rep blica de Gran Colombia, the combined patriot forces won a decisive victory against Spain in the Battle of Carabobo in 1821 and later helped other colonies in their struggles for independence. At the time, Philadelphia helped circulate revolutionary ideas across the Americas that inspired Venezuela’s revolutionary leaders, and that legacy remains visible today through a statue on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, dedicated in 1977 as a gift from the government of Venezuela to the City of Philadelphia.
 
To commemorate the significance of Venezuela’s struggle for independence, honor those who lost their lives, and celebrate the contributions that Venezuelans make to our Commonwealth today, we are introducing a resolution to recognize July 5, 2026, as “Venezuelan Independence Day” in Pennsylvania. In the birthplace of America, it is fitting that we acknowledge the enduring connection between Pennsylvania and Venezuela’s independence legacy. We ask that you co-sponsor this resolution, joining us in recognizing Venezuelan Independence Day and the history, sacrifice, and contributions it represents.