Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation participate in Victims of Communism Memorial Ceremony
 
June 10th, 2010, Washington, DC- Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the establishment of the Victims of Communism Memorial here in Washington, DC. The Memorial, a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue built by the students at Tiananmen Square in 1989, is located at the intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenues, NW, and pays tribute to the millions of victims of Communism around the globe.  The Laogai Research Foundation was among the participants in the ceremony, which included 12 embassies and more than 20 dissident organizations whose nations have been affected by Communism. 
 
Among the speakers were Dr. Lee Edwards of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and Congressmen Thaddeus McCotter, both of whom underscored the importance of recognizing Communism as a global movement which had not yet been eradicated.  Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu said of the ceremony, "The commemoration of the victims of communism is a vastly important undertaking.  However, as we remember those who have suffered, it is important to reflect on the fact that Communism still oppresses over one-fifth of the world's population, and that 3-5 million people are still imprisoned in the Laogai forced labor prison camps. China is still a Communist nation. It is crucial that remembrance of those who have suffered occurs in tandem with action on behalf of those who are still suffering."
 
For further inquiry, please contact Lindsey Purdy at (202) 408-8300 or Lindsey@laogai.org. 

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The Laogai Research Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded by former political prisoner Harry Wu in 1992.  Its mission is to gather information on and raise public awareness of the Laogai-China's extensive system of forced labor prison camps.