The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is an educational, research, and human rights non-profit organization devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to pursuing the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.
The Foundation was authorized in 1993 by a unanimous Act of Congress signed as Public Law 103-199 by President William J. Clinton on 17 December 1993.
Inspired by an appreciation for the principles of liberty and an understanding of how these ideas have enabled human flourishing and prosperity to an unprecedented degree, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation envisions a world free from the false hope of Marxism and safe from the tyranny of communism. The Foundation was established, among others, on the initiative of the late Prof. Zbigniew Brzeziński and Lee Edwards, Ph.D., who later served as the President of the Foundation.
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation’s mission is to educate future generations about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism and to advocate for the freedom of those still held captive by communist regimes. Similarly to the Institute of National Remembrance, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is a member of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.
It is a landmark objective of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to establish a world-class, digitally integrated museum that provides real-time content fully accessible across multiple platforms, a captivating visitor experience for in-person visitors and millions more online users per year, and an international hub of scholarship and citizen engagement for the 21st century anti-communist movement.
The meeting with the IPN delegation was attended by the Polish Ambassador to the US, Marek Magierowski, and Lee Edwards, Ph.D. – Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Elizabeth Spalding, Ph.D. – Vice-Chairman and Ambassador Andrew Bremberg – the current President and CEO of the Foundation, Milda Mataciunaite-Boyce – Director of Fellowship Programs and Brittany Balmer – Director of Operations, as well as Monika Kaniewska representing the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington.
After the meeting, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance and Ambassador Marek Magierowski laid a wreath at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. They were accompanied by Lt. Col. Karol Budniak and Senior Lt. Marek Wszoła.
On 12 June 2007, President George W. Bush dedicated the Victims of Communism Memorial statue in Washington, D.C. The Memorial’s front pedestal reads, “To the more than one hundred million victims of communism and to those who love liberty.” Its back pedestal reads, “To the freedom and independence of all captive nations and peoples.” The Memorial features a 3 m bronze replica of the Goddess of Democracy, erected by students during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.