World Freedom Day, 2015

Proclamation 9365 of November 6, 2015

World Freedom Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Twenty-six years ago, after nearly three decades of
separating family and friends, the Berlin Wall crumbled
under the force of popular will--reuniting Germans from
East and West and providing hope to all who believed in
the power of a people yearning to be free. The fall of
the Iron Curtain liberated a continent from the grip of
corrupt dictatorships, and its demise marked a victory
for democratic rule over forces that had for too long
sealed out the fresh air of freedom. On this day, we
honor those who braved extreme hardship in pursuit of
progress and reunification, and we reaffirm our support
for the citizens of the world who still face obstacles
to a better, brighter, and more just future.

In standing with all those behind the Curtain who felt
the urgency of the time and who sought a democracy of
their own, the United States recognized our own past: A
common struggle for individual rights, security, and
human dignity. During a stirring defense of these
ideals, it was an American President who famously
pledged solidarity with Berliners, and another who
issued a bold call to tear down what stood between
Germany and the blessings of liberty. As we celebrate
our friendship with the German people today, we reflect
on our history and look to the future with a shared
notion of optimism and opportunity.

Through their victory, the people of Berlin inspired
the world. Their resolve reminds us that though the
scourge of oppression endures, it can never outlast the
spirit of a people determined to live free. On this
day, let us carry forward the call that echoes through
the ages--``Ich bin ein Berliner''--by supporting those
who still struggle against tyranny and intolerance, and
who continue to seek the everlasting light of liberty.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2015, as
World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United
States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies
and activities, reaffirming our dedication to freedom
and democracy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and fortieth.