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31st Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 12, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Iowa is home to a lot of people who have a heritage from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. November 17 is coming up pretty soon, and it marks the 31st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

In 1989, the Czech people stood up against Communist rule and, through nonviolent demonstrations, precipitated the nation's transition to democracy. The Velvet Revolution lasted 43 days and in the end ended 41 years of Communist control of Czechoslovakia. Jingling keys became a symbol of the revolution and of the new doors that democracy and freedom from communism would unlock for those great people in Czechoslovakia.

Now we have two countries--the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. We also have a National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, IA. This museum helps to educate Americans about these events I just talked about and, most importantly, to teach them about the importance of never giving up on fighting for freedom.

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