Dec 20
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the bipartisan Victims of Communism Caucus, co-chaired and in partnership with Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
The Victims of Communism Caucus honors and bring awareness to the millions of people who have been harmed or killed by communist governments. The Caucus focuses on commemorating the 100 million victims of communism who perished in the 20th century, and on showing the impact of the communist legacy in former captive nations, as well as the ongoing oppression of the five existing communist regimes of China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam.
The Victims of Communism Caucus was launched during the 118th Congress at the Capitol Visitor Center with a panel of speakers who gave remarks including VOC’s Director of Government Relations, Karina Lipsman, VOC’s Founding Chairman, Dr. Lee Edwards, VOC Trustee, Ambassador Aldona Woś, Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Witness Speaker Merita McCormack.
“As a proud first generation American whose parents fled from communism in North Korea, I understand how precious our democracy truly is,” said Steel. “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. We must never take the hard-won freedoms we enjoy for granted. Through this caucus, I am proud to work in bipartisanship to ensure we never forget the cost of communism, the value of our liberty here in the United States and bring awareness to those who are suffering today.”
“Over the course of the last century, countless people have suffered under oppressive communist regimes more interested in consolidating absolute power than protecting fundamental rights,” said Wasserman Schultz. “But today, on our watch, autocracies like Cuba, China, and North Korea continue to suppress dissent, deny basic necessities, and coalesce to threaten global democracy. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Steel in leading this effort to ensure that victims of communism, past and present, are not forgotten.”
Watch the full event below.
