August 22, 2018. OTTAWA. On August 23, Canadians commemorate Black Ribbon Day, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe.

 

Established through a unanimous resolution of Canada's Parliament in 2009, Black Ribbon Day coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union.

 

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact divided Europe between the monstrous totalitarian regimes of Hitler and Stalin. Millions of men, women and children were murdered, imprisoned, displaced or subjected to horrific cruelty at the hands of the two evil regimes. On Black Ribbon Day, we honour the millions of victims of Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union. May their Memory Be Eternal. Вічная Пам'ять.

 

"On Black Ribbon Day, we honour the memory of the millions of people who suffered under the totalitarian tyranny of German Nazism and Soviet Communism," stated Paul Grod, National President of the UCC. "A quarter century has passed since the Berlin Wall was torn down, but today Europe is again under threat from Russian imperialism. As Russia wages a war of aggression against Ukraine, we must recall the lessons of history to ensure that the crimes of Nazism and Communism are never again repeated."

 

The Central and Eastern European Council (CEEC), which represents the interests of 4 million Canadians of Central and Eastern European heritage, is organizing a series of events to commemorate Black Ribbon Day. For more information on events in your community, please see here .

 

"As Russia continues to actively manipulate history by rehabilitating Stalin's murderous past and Soviet repression, it is more important today than ever for all Canadians to recognize the terror and suffering inflicted upon millions of Europeans during the last century under Nazi, Soviet and Communist regimes," said Central and Eastern European Council President, Andris Kesteris. "The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop friendship pact between Hitler and Stalin unleashed that terror and Black Ribbon Day ensures that we never forget that fact."

 

The UCC expresses its gratitude to the Central and Eastern European Council for their strong support of the people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russian aggression.