August 22, 2024, 6:30 p.m., Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
TORONTO- Since 2009, Black Ribbon Day has been commemorated in Canada, Europe and elsewhere as an official International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism, specifically Nazi, Stalinist, fascist and communist regimes. Black Ribbon Day was originally started in the 1980s by Markus Hess, President of the Estonian Central Council in Canada. By 1991, it had become a world-wide movement with pro-freedom and democracy demonstrations held in 51 cities.
Established through a unanimous resolution of Canada’s Parliament, Black Ribbon Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in August 1939, which allowed them to coordinate the start of World War II and invade sovereign nations in central and eastern Europe. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were assigned to the Soviet Union for annexation and colonization.
Subsequently, they were run over and occupied by the Soviet Red Army, then Nazi Germany and once again by the Soviets. The violent terror that Stalin had launched on the Baltic States provoked a mass exodus of refugees in 1944, who fled the return of advancing Soviet forces. Mass human rights abuses, new waves of repressions and nearly 50 years of illegal occupation followed.
On August 23,1989, 50 years after the signing of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia organized the Baltic Way. Over two million citizens joined hands across the three countries to show their determination to regain independence after almost 50 years of brutal Soviet occupation.
In January 1990, over one million Ukrainians joined hands across 700 kilometers, signaling their hope and determination for independence. Participants at the Toronto commemoration on August 22 will be invited to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people, as they continue their valiant fight for freedom and democracy.
The Baltic Way continues to inspire freedom-seeking people around the world. We look forward to your participation on August 22, at Nathan Philips Square.
Estonian Central Council in Canada, Latvian National Federation in Canada, Lithuanian Canadian Community
