Victims of Communism Memorial
The Victims of Communism Memorial honors the more than 100 million people who died under communist governments in the 20th century
In a small triangle of land just two blocks from Union Station sits a memorial that thousands pass each day without realizing what it is. The Victims of Communism Memorial is a bronze statue of a woman holding a torch, much like the Statue of Liberty without a crown, standing on top of a round base. In addition to those who died, the memorial recognizes victims who were imprisoned, deported, pressed into forced labor, or otherwise suffered under communism.
The statue is a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue erected by students in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, China. The original statue was 33 feet tall, but the Victims of Communism Memorial is about a third that size. In addition to China, other countries specifically called out in this memorial include Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cuba, North Korea, the Soviet Union, and Vietnam.
The base the statue sits on has two inscriptions. On the front it reads, “to the more than one hundred million victims of communism and to those who love liberty.” The inscription on the back is, “to the freedom and independence of all captive nations and peoples.” Around the bottom is lettering labeling the statue as the Victims of Communism Memorial.
The memorial was authorized by the federal government in 1993, but was not dedicated until 2007. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation was responsible for raising the money to build the memorial. The memorial’s dedication ceremony was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s “tear down this wall” speech in front of the barrier that divided West and East Berlin. After its dedication, the National Park Service is now responsible for maintaining the memorial.
The memorial itself lacks context or details about the victims that it seeks to honor, but the sign next to it briefly describes the millions of people from 30 countries that have been killed under communist governments in the twentieth century. Critics of the memorial feel it is political propaganda that uses Cold War imagery and fails to account for the many victims of other economic and political systems, including the United States’ own history of slavery and the oppression of Native Americans. It’s certainly a lot to ask of a statue, but I wish the Victims of Communism Memorial provided more information and focused more on the victims themselves and their experiences rather than the governments responsible.
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Address
Corner of New Jersey Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW
Metro Station
- Union Station (RD)
Directions
The memorial is in the triangle of land between New Jersey Avenue NW, Massachusetts Avenue NW, and G Street NW. Searching for Victims of Communism Memorial in Google Maps will bring up the correct location.
Cost
Free
Hours
Open 24 hours but best in the daylight
Length of Adventure
10 minutes
Website
https://www.victimsofcommunism.org/memorial
