"Each year on November 7, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation marks National Day for the Victims of Communism to remember those who have suffered and died at the hands of communist regimes in the past, and to stand for those who are fighting for freedom today.

Presidential Message

Since 2017, the President has issued a yearly proclamation declaring November 7 as National Day for the Victims of Communism.

On November 7, 2019, President Trump held an event in the Oval Office in recognition of the National Day for the Victims of Communism. The delegation featured witnesses of communism, including Sirley Ávila León, Daniel Di Martino, Grace Jo, Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (“Mother Mushroom”), and Amb. Aldona Wos.

Federal Recognition

On November 5, 2019, Former Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Founding Co-Chair of the Victims of Communism Caucus, introduced a House Resolution expressing support for the designation of November 7 as the annual “Victims of Communism Memorial Day.”

State Recognition

In March of 2018, Virginia became the first state to officially recognize November 7 as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day” after passing a resolution spearheaded by Virginia Delegate Mark Cole. To date, Alabama, Utah, and Virginia have passed resolutions to officially recognize November 7 as “Victims of Communism Memorial Day”, and ten others — Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas — are moving to do the same.

STATE UPDATES

Alabama: HJR 6
Arizona: HB 2559
Arkansas: IR 2019-0001
Florida: SB 1606, HB 5, HB 1553, & SB 1450
Idaho: SR 119
Illinois: HR 12
Missouri: HCR 28
New Jersey: AJR 99
Pennsylvania: HR 1116
South Carolina: HB 3473
Texas: HB 1057
Utah: HB 116
Virginia: HJ 30

VOC’s goal is to see resolutions passed in all 50 states, so that more people will be aware of the vast human suffering caused by totalitarian regimes.

Local Recognition

In 2020, as a result of educational efforts by our Victims of Communism – St. Louis Commission, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson issued a Proclamation declaring November 7 as Victims of Communism Memorial Day. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a resolution on November 6, 2020, the eve of the 103rd anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, honoring victims of communism. Our St. Louis Commission commemorated Victims of Communism Memorial Day on November 7, 2020 with an event that included the personal testimonies of a panel of witnesses, a film screening of First They Killed My Father, and expert training through an advocacy workshop designed to help St. Louisans educate others about the perils of communism." ~ victimsofcommunism.org/programs/memory/voc-day

Websites Listed in the Order in which they are Referenced:
victimsofcommunism.org/about
Presidential Proclamation
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/national-day-victims-communism
victimsofcommunism.org/caucus
Federal Bill
congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/679/text
State Bills
Alabama: alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2021rs/PrintFiles/HJR6-enr.pdf
Arizona: apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/72890
Arkansas: arkleg.state.ar.us/Committees/Document?type=pdf&source=Interim+Study+Proposal+and+Resolution&filename=IR-2019-001
Florida's 4 bills:
1) myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0005__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0005&Session=2021
2) flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/5/?Tab=BillHistory
3) flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1553
4) flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1450/?Tab=RelatedBills
Idaho: legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2020/legislation/SCR119
Illinois: ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=12&GAID=15&DocTypeID=HR&LegId=114015&SessionID=108&GA=101
Missouri: house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HCR28&year=2021&code=R
New Jersey: njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/AJR/99_I1.HTM
Pennsylvania: legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=1116
South Carolina: scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3473&session=123&summary=B
Texas: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB1057
Utah: le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0116.html
Virginia: lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+sum+HJ30&181+sum+HJ30
St. Louis Commission hosts Event
victimsofcommunism.org/local-commissions/stl
victimsofcommunism.org/event/voc-day-in-saint-louis

Images
Sirley Ávila León of Cuba, Daniel Di Martino of Venezuela, Grace Jo of North Korea, Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (“Mother Mushroom”) of Vietnam, and Amb. Aldona Wos. of Poland.