August 23rd is commemorated in Canada, Europe and elsewhere in the world as Black Ribbon Day, the official International Day of Remembrance for victims of totalitarianism and authoritarianism, specifically Nazi, Stalinist, fascist and communist regimes. In August 1939, a secret pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (MRP) was signed between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany carving up Europe between them with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania assigned to the Soviet sphere for annexation and colonization. This pact paved the way for the invasion of Poland and facilitated the coordinated start of WWII, and the subsequent occupation of Estonia by the Soviets, then Nazi Germany and finally again the Soviets. Waves of repressions, deportations, mass human rights abuses, and 50 years of illegal occupation followed.
On August 23rd, 1989, the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, over two million citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania formed a human chain stretching from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius, as a demonstration of solidarity and a powerful demand for independence from the Soviet Union.
The international Black Ribbon Day (BRD) movement was established in the 1980’s by former president of Estonian Central Council in Canada, the late Markus Hess to commemorate and honour the millions of victims who died under Soviet and Nazi regimes. By 1991, BRD had become a world-wide movement with pro-freedom and democracy demonstrations held in over 50 cities around the world. Significantly, in January 1990, over one million Ukrainians joined hands across 700 kilometers of Ukraine, signaling their hope and determination for independence which was finally declared in 1991.
Today, Putin’s Russia, the successor regime to the Soviet Union continues to commit genocidal war against Ukraine, as well as cyberwarfare, sabotage and disinformation campaigns against Estonia and other democracies around the world. Black Ribbon Day highlights the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of upholding human rights, freedom and democracy. As Estonian Canadians, we are proud of the commitment and contributions of the Canadian and Estonian governments in support of Ukraine as it fights for its very existence and the security of all of Europe.
ECC will commemorate Black Ribbon Day along with the Restoration of Estonian Independence Day (August 20, 1991) on August 21st at Tartu College (7 p.m.). Members of the GTA Estonian community will be joined by representatives of the Latvian and Lithuanian communities to hear from Professor Andres Kasekamp on history, and Rob Zeidler on his humanitarian aid work in Ukraine. Participants will be invited to light candles in remembrance of victims of all totalitarian regimes.
Estonian Central Council in Canada
