30th Anniversary of Fall of Berlin Wall

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this week, freedom lovers around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Constructed in 1961, the infamous Berlin Wall symbolized Soviet brutality and forced separation between liberty and tyranny. Yet, no wall could contain the persistent surge for liberty by the captive people of Central and Eastern Europe.

In Poland's shipyards, a workers' solidarity movement, led by visionary and valiant labor leader Lech Walesa, brought democracy to the Polish people and millions of others as the Soviet Union collapsed.

In Leipzig, Germany, 100,000 protestors and their peaceful demonstrations led to the once-unimaginable reunification of a civilized Germany.

Yet, as democracy spread, many assumed liberty's work in the region was done and that the roots of democracy were firmly entrenched.

Tragically, yet again, maligned Russian influence haunts the region as Putin wages his illegal war in Ukraine, today's scrimmage line for liberty on the European continent. Outmoded ethno-national narratives are being fed that, in the past, led to centuries of bloody conflict.

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, democratic nations must unite so that liberty, justice, and equality is for all people across our globe.

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