Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

History

In 1991, Republican Senator Steve Symms and Representative Dana Rohrabacher introduced concurrent resolutions in the United States Congress urging the construction of "an International Memorial to the Victims of Communism at an appropriate location within the boundaries of the District of Columbia and for the appointment of a commission to oversee the design, construction and all other pertinent details of the memorial."

In 1993, Rohrabacher and fellow Republican Senator Jesse Helms sponsored amendments to the FRIENDSHIP Act of 1993 which authorized such construction. The act was signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton on December 17, 1993. It cited "the deaths of over 100,000,000 victims in an unprecedented imperial holocaust" and resolved that "the sacrifices of these victims should be permanently memorialized so that never again will nations and peoples allow so evil a tyranny to terrorize the world."

According to Title IX, Section 905 of Public Law 103–199, an independent organization was to be established to construct, maintain, and operate the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C., as well as to collect the contributions for the establishment of the memorial and to encourage the participation of all groups suffered under Communist regimes. In 2007, the foundation completed the Victims of Communism Memorial, which was dedicated by Republican President George W. Bush. In 2016, the foundation released a list of 51 prisoners of conscience in Cuba just before Democratic President Barack Obama visit and meeting with Cuban leader Raúl Castro. In 2020, the organization released a report alleging organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs in China.

Programs

Victims of Communism Memorial

The memorial was dedicated on June 12, 2007, the 20th anniversary of Republican President Ronald Reagan's Tear down this wall! speech in Berlin. The unveiling of the statue in Washington DC earned international press attention.

The land was a gift of the National Park Service, and the remaining cost, over $1 million, was raised from private sources. Sculpted by Thomas Marsh, it is a 10-foot bronze replica of the Papier-mâché Goddess of Democracy statue made by student democracy protesters leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

Museum

The foundation opened a museum at 900 15th St NW two blocks from the White House in June 2022. It is across the street from McPherson Square Park and McPherson Metro Station The grand opening featured three permanent galleries and a temporary gallery focused on the victims of communism. In the Washington Post, columnist George F. Will wrote that “Visitors to the museum will experience a wholesome immersion in the nation’s anti-communist success. And they will be reminded that this work is unfinished".

Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom

The foundation annually presents its Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom at an event which honors opponents of communism and has been used to raise funds for the construction of the memorial. Past recipients include Myroslav Marynovych, Chen Guangcheng, Tom Lantos, Pope John Paul II, Vaclav Havel, Yang Jianli, Thadeus Nguyễn Văn Lý, Yelena Bonner, William F. Buckley Jr., Richard Pipes, Guillermo Fariñas, Lane Kirkland, Armando Valladares, János Horváth, Lech Wałęsa, Anna Walentynowicz, National Endowment for Democracy, and Henry M. Jackson.

Projects

In 2015, the foundation released a biopic video series called Witness Project, featuring interviews with witnesses of communism. In 2024 the United States House of Representatives passed the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, which directs the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to create an education program for high schools about the dangers of communism.

Personnel

VOC's chairman is Elizabeth Edwards Spalding. Its chairman emeritus and co-founder is scholar Edwin Feulner. Its previous chairman emeritus is Lee Edwards, a founding member of the conservative youth activism organization Young Americans for Freedom and distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Lev Dobriansky, economics professor and chairman of the anti-communist National Captive Nations Committee, previously served as chairman emeritus. Its vice chairman is Randal Teague.

Andrew Bremberg, former department manager for federally funded not-for-profit defence research contractor MITRE and former director of the Domestic Policy Council for U.S. President Donald Trump, serves as president of VOC. Ken Pope is the current CEO.

The advisory council includes Sali Berisha, Dennis DeConcini, Carl Gershman, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, Katrina Lantos Swett, Daniel Lipinski, Guntis Ulmanis, Armando Valladares, and others.

References

References

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2. "Leadership". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
3. Rauch, Jonathan. (December 2003). "The Forgotten Millions". [[The Atlantic]].
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5. (1991). "H. Con. Res. 228". Library of Congress.
6. (November 29, 1993). "U.S. Laws Catch Up to the New Russia". The New York Times.
7. (December 17, 1993). "Bill Summary and Status". Library of Congress.
8. "Public Law 103-199". United States Congress.
9. (June 13, 2007). "China Blasts Bush Tribute to Victims of Communism". Reuters.
10. Rhodan, Maya. (March 21, 2016). "Advocates List Cuba's Political Prisoners After Castro Says There Are None".
11. Lipes, Joshua. (March 12, 2020). "Uyghur, Falun Gong Detainees Likely Source for China's Organ Market: Report".
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15. George, Will. (August 24, 2022). "D.C.'s new Victims of Communism Museum tells a vital, unfinished tale". [[The Washington Post]].
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17. Nordlinger, Jay. (July 25, 2014). "Sweet Solidarity, Part II". National Review.
18. "Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
19. (November 16, 2015). "Chinese Dissident Receives Political Award in Washington". Asia Times.
20. Abigail Clevenger. (May 8, 2014). "What About Communism". Philanthropy Daily.
21. Hurowitz, Noah. (2024-12-05). "Just Say No: Congress Considers Neocon Lesson Plans to Keep Kids Off Communism".
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