The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall
Washington D.C.: The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, today proclaimed November 9, 2021, as World Freedom Day and called upon the Americans to recall the hope symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and reaffirm America’s “dedication to freedom and democracy”.
To demonstrate that the United States remains committed to strengthening the democratic institutions, defending civil society, advancing human rights, and holding those who commit abuses and foster corruption accountable, on December 9-10, 2021, Biden will host a virtual Summit for Democracy to help set an agenda for democratic renewal across the globe.
While signing the proclamation, Biden recalled 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!”
“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,” Biden stated.
For nearly three decades, the Berlin Wall had stood as a physical symbol of the Cold War, dividing democratic West Berlin from communist East Berlin. 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. “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,” Biden stated.
Since the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, Biden said the world had 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,” Biden said.
In the face of resurgent authoritarianism and attacks on human rights around the globe, Biden said the United States was 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,” Biden said.
– global bihari bureau
