Presidential Document2021-24959
World Freedom Day, 2021
Primary source
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Published
November 15, 2021
Signed
November 8, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 217 (Monday, November 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 217 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62893-62894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24959]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 217 / Monday, November 15, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 62893]]
Proclamation 10304 of November 8, 2021
World Freedom Day, 2021
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For nearly 3 decades, the Berlin Wall stood as a
physical symbol of the Cold War, dividing democratic
West Berlin from communist East Berlin. Today, we
remember the East Germans who escaped and those who
died attempting to attain a life of freedom. We
recognize the irrepressible human spirit that no wall
could contain, which fueled the civil resistance,
sacrifice, and courageous defiance of people across
Central and Eastern Europe. We recall the euphoria and
the hope of the East and West Berliners who gathered at
the wall on November 9, 1989, chanting ``Tor auf!''--
``Open the gate!''
It was the aspirations for freedom of the people of
Central and Eastern Europe that ultimately brought down
the Berlin Wall and overcame the Soviet Union's
attempts to keep Europe divided by force. On World
Freedom Day, we commemorate this historic event and
honor all those who peacefully rose up and claimed
their freedom and all those who continue their legacy
by peacefully working to end tyranny and oppression in
our world today.
Since the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, we have
seen great progress to advance human rights and
fundamental freedoms as well as to build and
consolidate democratic institutions across the formerly
communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and
around the world. However, democracy is still fragile,
and in too many places it remains under threat.
Authoritarians elevate their own power over the rights
of their citizens, and around the world we see aspiring
autocrats trample the rule of law, attack freedom of
the press, and undermine an independent judiciary.
In the face of resurgent authoritarianism and attacks
on human rights around the globe, the United States is
working to support democratic renewal and resilience at
home and abroad. It remains as important as ever to
counter the range of threats to democracy--and,
ultimately, peace and stability--including
transnational repression, corruption, cyberattacks,
disinformation, digital authoritarianism, inequality
and injustice, voter suppression, and economic
coercion.
World Freedom Day also reminds us of the hopeful future
people still seek for themselves around the world. In
recent years, brave women and youths in Sudan have
withstood violence and oppression to push a genocidal
dictator from power and today continue to defend their
democratic progress. Proud Moldovans helped deliver a
victory for the forces of democracy. Citizens of
Zambia, especially young people, turned out in historic
numbers to elect their new president. Ukraine continues
to make progress in countering corruption, safeguarding
human rights, and strengthening its democratic
institutions all while standing up to Russian
aggression. Courageous anti-corruption activists, human
rights defenders, journalists, and peace protestors in
Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Hong Kong, Syria, Venezuela, and
elsewhere continue to demand respect for their human
rights and a democratic future. To all those who
continue to endure repression under authoritarian
regimes, know that the people of the United States
stand with you.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideal that
democracy--a Government of the people, by the people,
and for the people--is how we best safeguard the
rights, freedoms, and dignity that belong to every
person.
[[Page 62894]]
Together with other free nations, the United States
remains committed to the vital work of strengthening
our democratic institutions, defending civil society,
advancing human rights, and holding those who commit
abuses and foster corruption accountable. To
demonstrate this, on December 9-10, 2021, I will host a
virtual Summit for Democracy to help set an agenda for
democratic renewal across the globe.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, do hereby proclaim
November 9, 2021, as World Freedom Day. I call upon the
people of the United States of America to recall the
hope symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and
reaffirm our dedication to freedom and democracy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2021-24959
Filed 11-12-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P
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