[Lee Edwards, President, Victims of Communism Memorial Fndn.]:
“We will not forget the victims of communism or their sacrifice.”
June 12th marked the 5th anniversary of the completion of the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington. Ceremonies were held at the memorial, and attendees cherished the memory of the millions of people who lost their lives to the tyranny of communism.
Speaking on Capitol Hill, former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that communism has been responsible for the deaths of more people than any other movement in history.
[Donald Rumsfeld, Former US Secretary of Defense]:
“We must not forget that millions around the globe are still trapped in tyranny. Still clinging to hope, and still looking to us. May the United States of America always be a beacon of light for the world, and may we be blessed with leaders who understand that.”
He spoke after receiving the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
[Donald Rumsfeld, Former US Secretary of Defense]:
“That the earth, and the countries of the world can see that the nations where people have free economic systems and free political systems. The people [in those countries] are doing better than in the other countries. So I encourage that.”
Annette Lantos, widow of the late US Congressman Tom Lantos and chairman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, also headlined the event.
She reminded the audience that totalitarian regimes are very much a real concern today.
Her daughter, co-chair of the advisory board to the foundation, expressed her support for the Chinese people.
[Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, Advisory Board Co-Chair, Lantos Foundation]:
“Congratulations to the Chinese people who have awakened and chose to renounce their affiliation with the Communist Party.”
She also called on CCP leaders to recognize the historical trend and make the right decision for China’s future.
[Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, Advisory Board Co-Chair, Lantos Foundation]:
“They can chose to renounce their affiliations with all of those ideals, ideas and practices, and that will pave a much more brilliant future for China. It will thrive when the potential of the Chinese people, the spiritual and intellectual, and physical potential is unleashed, by renouncing the oppressive and godless system of communism, there will be an incredible flourishing of that huge and marvelous nation.”
Representatives from Chinese, Tibetan, Vietnamese, and North Korean communities joined many from former Soviet-occupied countries to lay wreaths at the memorial site.
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