National Day for the Victims of Communism

From The White House:

Today, the National Day for the Victims of Communism, marks 100 years since the Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia. The Bolshevik Revolution gave rise to the Soviet Union and its dark decades of oppressive communism, a political philosophy incompatible with liberty, prosperity, and the dignity of human life.

Over the past century, communist totalitarian regimes around the world have killed more than 100 million people and subjected countless more to exploitation, violence, and untold devastation. These movements, under the false pretense of liberation, systematically robbed innocent people of their God-given rights of free worship, freedom of association, and countless other rights we hold sacrosanct. Citizens yearning for freedom were subjugated by the state through the use of coercion, violence, and fear.

Lenin addressing a crowd in Red Square, Moscow, Russian Revolution, Getty Images.

Today, we remember those who have died and all who continue to suffer under communism. In their memory and in honor of the indomitable spirit of those who have fought courageously to spread freedom and opportunity around the world, our Nation reaffirms its steadfast resolve to shine the light of liberty for all who yearn for a brighter, freer future.

Russian-soldiers-marching-in-Petrograd-1917

Background: 1993–PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS PUBLIC LAW 103-199

In 1993, a bipartisan bill was introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Robert Toricelli (D-NJ), Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) and Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) to establish a foundation that would educate the American public about the crimes of communism and honor the memory of more than 100,000,000 victims of communism around the world. The law was unanimously passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

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Victims of Communism  Memorial Foundation, (established in 1994) Statement on today’s White House Declaration

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is a Washington-based, non-profit educational and human rights organization devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.

BREAKING: Trump Administration Declares November 7 “National Day for the Victims of Communism”

Presidential Declaration Fulfills Calls by Leading Human Rights Organization to Recognize 100 Million Victims on Centennial of Bolshevik Revolution

Washington, D.C. – Recognizing the Trump administration’s historic statement released hours ago and declaring November 7 “National Day for the Victims of Communism,” Marion Smith, Executive Director of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), issued the following statement:

“How fitting that the President has declared today, November 7, ‘Victims of Communism Day’ as he travels on the Korean Peninsula, just a few miles from the border of the world’s most vicious communist regime in the world. More fitting still, that he should do so on the day that marks 100 years since communism made its bloody debut on the world stage. Since the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, communism has exacted a gruesome death toll of more than 100 million lives.”

“Sadly, communism is not a relic of the past. It lives on in places like China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam, where one-fifth of the world’s population are unjustly imprisoned, where torture is a daily occurrence, and where freedoms of speech, religion, and conscience are denied. Socialism and communism remain alluring for some Americans, and a troubling number of young Americans are more likely to choose living under ‘socialism’ or ‘communism’ than ‘capitalism,’ as we discovered in our most recent poll, the Annual Report on U.S. Attitudes Toward Socialism. It is our hope that by raising awareness about the crimes of communism in all of its guises, we can ensure that the world’s deadliest ideology never takes root in the United States and remains exactly where it belongs: on the ash heap of history.”

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is a Washington-based, non-profit educational and human rights organization devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes. VOC was authorized by an unanimous act of Congress on December 17, 1993 and signed by President Bill Clinton.