VOC Commends Georgia Legislature Passage of Key Legislation Commemorating Victims of Communism

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VOC is proud to announce the grand opening of the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington, DC. Join us to teach truth, seek justice, and remember the victims.

The Georgia State House of Representatives has approved a resolution to declare November 7 as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day” in remembrance of and honoring those who have died and suffered under communist regimes.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC)’s CEO, Ken Pope, along with the VOC Board of Trustees, and VOC’s allies in the State of Georgia, praised the Georgia Legislature for its passage of this important legislation commemorating the victims of communism.

“The Georgia House recognition of VOC Memorial Day is a great success. We look forward to having more states join Georgia in recognizing this important day,” said Ken Pope.

This month in passing HR 588, led in the House by Representative Matt Reeves, Georgia became the sixth state to officially recognize November 7 as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day” to bear witness to those who have died and suffered under communist regimes.

To date, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and now Georgia have passed resolutions to officially recognize November 7 as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day.” Eight others—Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina—are moving to do the same.

VOC Memorial Day is designed to raise awareness and educate the American people—and the world—about the real threats to freedom we face now, and the crimes perpetrated by communist regimes in the 20th century and that continue today in countries such as China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam.

November 7 was chosen as Victims of Communism Memorial Day to mark the day in 1917 when the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, which led to the creation of the world’s first communist government. On November 7, we remember those who have suffered and died at the hands of communist regimes in the past, and renew our commitment to stand up for those who are fighting for freedom today.

Georgia State Representative Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) remarked, “Victims of Communism know that freedom is not free, and fight the hardest for freedom and the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.”

“Victims of Communism and Fascism know that their mode of operation is the same. Both isms make individual rights, freedom, subservient to their definition of the “Common Good”.  This resolution is a great step in increasing awareness to their history,” said Jose Perez, Georgia Board of Regents, Member of the Board.

“There are tens of thousands of Georgian citizens who have suffered under communism from Cuba to Hungary to China and beyond. This proclamation was just the first step in the important process of officially acknowledging the 100 million victims of communism and educating the next generation about the evils of communist ideology,” said Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Hungarian American Coalition.

This initiative follows the signing in 2021 and 2022 by the States of Florida and Arizona respectively of a bill requiring schools teach their students about the crimes of communist regimes. The legislation, which was championed by VOC, requires schools to include in their curriculum a comparative discussion of the political ideologies of communism and totalitarianism with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. “We look forward to working with the Georgia State Legislature on the passage of this same legislation,” said VOC CEO Ken Pope.

VOC exists to remind a forgetful world of the evils of communism, the over 100 million victims, and to alert people of the free world to the growing threats of communist regimes.

Thanks to VOC’s committed friends and supporters encouraging the establishment of November 7 as the annual day of observance for Victims of Communism Memorial Day, we urge more states to follow the Florida Legislature’s example.

For more information about state recognition of VOC Memorial Day, visit our website. If you are interested in supporting a similar initiative in your state, please contact your state legislators.

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