HB1082: HB1082 Victims of Communism Day; November 7 of each year; designate

26 LC 44 3480S The House Committee on Special Rules offers the following substitute to HB 1082: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia A nnotated, relating to1 holidays and observances, so as to designate November 7 of each year as "Victims of2 Communism Day"; to provide for observances; to provide legislative findings; to provide for3 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 The General Assembly finds that:7 (1) Over 100 years have passed since the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and the8 formation of the first communist government under Vladimir Lenin, leading to decades of9 oppression and violence under communist regimes throughout the world;10 (2) Based on the economic philosophies of Karl Marx, communism h a s p r o v e n11 incompatible with the ideals of liberty, prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given12 rise to such infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong,13 János Kádár, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez, Daniel Ortega, Ho Chi M inh, Wojciech14 Jaruzelski, and Pol Pot;15 H. B. 1082 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 44 3480S (3) Communist regimes worldwide have killed more than 100 million people and subjected16 countless others to exploitation and unspeakable atrocities, with victims representing many17 different ethnicities, creeds, and backgrounds;18 (4) Through false promises of equality and liberation or through coercion, brutality, and19 fear, communist regimes have systematically robbed their own ci tizens of the rights to20 freedom of worship, freedom of speech, and freedom of association;21 (5) Many victims of communism were persecuted as political prisoners for speaking out22 against these regimes, and others were killed in genocidal stat e sponsored purges of23 undesirable groups;24 (6) In addition to violating basic human rights, communist reg imes have suppressed25 intellectual freedom, cultural life, and self-determination movements in numerous nations;26 and27 (7) The State of Georgia is home to many of these freedom-lovi ng victims and their28 descendants from across the world who came to this great state in pursuit of the American29 Dream.30 SECTION 2.31 Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and32 observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:33 "1-4-28.34 (a) November 7 of each year is designated as 'Victims of Communism Day' in Georgia.35 (b) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating November 7 as 'Victims36 of Communism Day,' which shall be suitably observed by public e xercise at the state37 capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate."38 SECTION 3.39 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.40 H. B. 1082 (SUB) - 2 -