The Victims of Communism Memorial is one of the lesser-known memorials in Washington, DC. It’s at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, and G Street NW. It sits two blocks from Union Station and is within view of the U.S. Capitol.
It’s a replica of the “Goddess of Democracy,” a temporary monument erected by student protestors in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. And it’s dedicated to the more than 100 million people who died under communist regimes in the 20th century.
Estimates based on The Black Book of Communism by Stéphane Courtois and contributors:
- 65 million – People’s Republic of China
- 20 million – Soviet Union
- 2 million – Cambodia
- 2 million – North Korea
- 1.7 million – Ethiopia
- 1.5 million – Afghanistan
- 1 million – Eastern Bloc
- 1 million – Vietnam
- 150,000 – Latin America
- 10,000 – International Communist movements not in power
These figures are widely cited but debated among historians.
The Victims of Communism Memorial stands as a reminder— not just of history,
but of what happens when power goes unchecked. Freedom must be protected.
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