Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark Black Ribbon Day, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe:
“Black Ribbon Day is a time to mourn the victims of communism and National Socialism in Europe and to honour those who lost their lives under these evil regimes. Today we also pay tribute to the courageous men and women who fought back against oppression and tyranny.
“Black Ribbon Day marks the anniversary of the infamous 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which directly led to the occupation of most of Central and Eastern Europe and the senseless slaughter and oppression of millions.
“As we mark Black Ribbon Day, we should remember that men, women and children in many parts of the world continue to face violence and repression from totalitarian regimes and dehumanizing ideologies. Canada strongly denounces such actions as they deny the intrinsic dignity and worth of every person, which is the foundation of a free and just society.
“Our Government is committed to honouring and remembering the victims of communism and Nazism. That is why we are helping to create a monument in our Nation’s Capital that will honour the hundreds of millions of men, women and children who struggled against the tyranny of communism. It is also why we are building a NationalHolocaust Monument in the National Capital Region that will preserve the memory of the Holocaust and its victims.
“On this important day, I encourage all Canadians to join our Government’s efforts to promote and protect the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world, and to do what we can to ensure that the wrongs committed during the darkest chapters of human history are not repeated.”
