PRINTER'S NO. 2331
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
268
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY R. MACKENZIE, GAYDOS, M. JONES, KAUFFMAN, KRUPA,
LEADBETER AND ROWE, NOVEMBER 16, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 16, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Designating November 7, 2023, as "Victims of Communism Memorial
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The year 2023 marks 32 years since the fall of the
Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, Based on the philosophy of Karl Marx, communism has
proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty, prosperity and
dignity of human life and has given rise to such infamous
totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi
Minh, Pol Pot, Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Castro brothers and the
Kim dynasty; and
WHEREAS, One-fifth of the world's population still live under
communist tyranny in countries like China, Venezuela and Cuba
where atrocities like genocide, food shortages, forced labor and
internment occur; and
WHEREAS, The Victims of Communism Museum opened on June 13,
2022, in Washington, DC, to educate visitors about the history
and horrors of communism; and
WHEREAS, Communist regimes worldwide have killed more than
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100 million people and subjected countless others to the worst
and widest-spread human rights abuses known to history, with
victims representing many different ethnicities, creeds and
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Through false promises of equality and liberation,
communist regimes have, as a matter of government policy, robbed
residents of the rights of freedom of religion, freedom of
speech and freedom of association, through coercion, brutality
and fear; and
WHEREAS, Many victims of communism were persecuted as
political prisoners for speaking out against these communist
regimes and others were killed in genocidal, state-sponsored
purges; and
WHEREAS, In addition to violating basic human rights,
communist regimes have suppressed freedom of conscience,
cultural life and self-determination movements in more than 40
nations; and
WHEREAS, The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in
Washington, DC, a nonprofit organization authorized by a
unanimous act of the Congress of the United States, educates
people about the ideology, history and legacy of communism and
honors those who have suffered and died under communist regimes;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designate November 7, 2023, as
"Victims of Communism Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania transmit a
copy of this resolution to the Victims of Communism Memorial
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Foundation so that members of the organization may be apprised
of the Commonwealth's action on this matter; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania post this
designation on the publicly accessible Internet website of the
House of Representatives.
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