President Joe Biden’s recent proclamation honoring Columbus Day was a missed opportunity to acknowledge and elaborate on one of the country’s dreadful moments and one in which Italians were the victims.

Biden’s proclamation declared Monday as the day Columbus Day will be recognized this year. Additionally, he acknowledged the importance of the day in the Italian American community, emphasizing that “for many Italian Americans, the story of Christopher Columbus’ voyage crossing the Atlantic from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on behalf of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II remains a source of pride.”