Florida Declares ‘Victims of Communism Day,’ Will Teach Students About ‘Evils’ of Communism
May 9, 2022 Updated 11:38 A.M. ET
MIAMI (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation proclaiming November 7th as “Victims of Communism Day.” The law requires Florida high school students to learn about communist regimes and the “evils” perpetuated by those leaders.
The Governor signed the legislation at the Freedom Tower in Miami where many Cubans fled from communist regimes to Florida to receive assistance.
“This tower is a reminder that freedom is not free. That you have to fight for your rights,” DeSantis said. “There are a lot of people out there that would love nothing more than to put you under some form of oppression.”
Under the new law, students would be required to observe “Victims of Communism Day” in school. The day will honor the 100 million people who have fallen victim to communist regimes across the world.
“A lot of young people don’t really know that much about what communism meant in practice and what it continues to mean in different parts of the world,” DeSantis said. “You can see at a college campus students flying Hammer and Sickle from the old Soviet Union flag.”
High school students enrolled in the United States Government Class would be required to receive at least 45 minutes of instruction on “Victims of Communism Day” beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.
Students will learn how these victims faced poverty and suffered from starvation, migration, systemic lethal violence, and suppression of speech.
“Florida every year will be able to speak the truth about the evils of communism who have fought under the yoke and have escaped for freedom,” the Governor said. “I noticed that the people that escape communism for free societies never choose to go back.”
They will learn topics including Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet System, Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and Nicolas Maduro and the Chavismo movement.
DeSantis also signed legislation to make 26 road destinations in Florida, including three that honor brave Cubans who have fought against Castro’s rule.
