SB 268 — Proclamation of “Victims of Communism Day”

Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 268 By Senator Diaz 36-00464-22 2022268__ A bill to be entitled An act relating to the proclamationCommittee ofon “VictimsAppropriations; of Communism Day”;

and Senator Diaz 576-03570-22 2022268c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the proclamation of “Victims of Communism Day”;

requiring the Governor to annually proclaim November 7 annually as “Victims of Communism Day”;

requiring the State Board of Education to adopt specified revised social studies standards;

WHEREAS, more than 100 years have passed since the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and the formation of the first communist government under Vladimir Lenin, leading to decades of oppression and violence under communist regimes throughout the world, and WHEREAS, based on the economic philosophy of Karl Marx, communism has proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty, prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given rise to such infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, and WHEREAS, communist regimes worldwide have killed more than 100 million people and subjected countless others to exploitation and unspeakable atrocities, with victims representing many different ethnicities, creeds, and backgrounds, and WHEREAS, through false promises of equality and liberation or through coercion, brutality, and fear, communist regimes have Page 1 of 3 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 268 36-00464-22576-03570-22 2022268__2022268c1 WHEREAS, through false promises of equality and liberation or through coercion, brutality, and fear, communist regimes have systematically robbed their own citizens of the rights of freedom of worship, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, and WHEREAS, many victims of communism were persecuted as political prisoners for speaking out against these regimes, and others were killed in genocidal state-sponsored purges of undesirable groups, and WHEREAS, in addition to violating basic human rights, communist regimes have suppressed intellectual freedom, cultural life, and self-determination movements in more than 40 nations, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

(3) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, high school students enrolled in the United States Government class required Page 2 of 3 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 268 36-00464-22576-03570-22 2022268__2022268c1 (3)(a) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, high school students enrolled in the United States Government class required by s.

1003.42821003.4282(3)(d) must receive at least 45 minutes of instruction on Victims of Communism Day onto include topics such as Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet System, Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, and Nicolás Maduro and the Chavismo movementmovement, and how victims suffered under these regimes through poverty, starvation, migration, systemic lethal violence, and suppression of speech.

(b) No later than April 1, 2023, the State Board of Education must adopt revised social studies standards for inclusion in the United States Government course required by s.

1003.4282(3)(d) which incorporate the requirements of this subsection.