WASHINGTON DC—On June 12, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was awarded the “Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom” during a wreath laying ceremony at Capitol Hill.
Presented on behalf of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, the award also commemorated the fifth anniversary of the memorial ceremony.
After the ceremony, Rumsfeld and other attendees at the event expressed their support for the “tuidang” movement—a movement which encourages Chinese people to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party.
“I’m the one who believes that people have the right to be free,” Rumsfeld said. “I think anyone can see when they look at the world that those with free economic systems and free political systems, their people are doing better, so I encourage that.”
Seven years ago the former Secretary of Defense signed a declaration in support of the tuidang movement. At that time, The Epoch Times had just published a special editorial series called the “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” which provided a look at the previously censored history of the communist party in China and its suppression of the Chinese people. An online portal allowing ordinary Chinese people to post their statements to withdraw was established at the same time. http://tuidang.dajiyuan.com/
To this day, more than 110 million people have submitted statements to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party, and its affiliated organizations like the Youth League and the Young Pioneers.
“People have realized the ignominy of being associated with a group that has implemented so much pain and suffering on so many people. It’s certainly not worth it,” said Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, daughter of late Congressman Thomas Lantos. “Congratulations to the Chinese people because they have awakened.”
Lantos also said that she foresees a much better China without the communist party.
“It will thrive as the spiritual, physical and intellectual potentials of Chinese people unleash, and it will be incredibly flourishing,” she said.
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation was established by an Act of Congress with the intention of building a memorial in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the more than 100 million victims of communism.
The Victims of Communism Memorial was dedicated by President George W. Bush on June 12, 2007.
Read the original Chinese article.
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