Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on Black Ribbon Day

August 23, 2014

OTTAWA – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Black Ribbon Day:

“Today, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, nations around the world join in solemn reflection of the pain and suffering endured by millions of people under totalitarian regimes.

“This pact, signed by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in 1939 and which carved up Eastern Europe, robbed millions of their national and personal freedoms, and subsequently led to some of the darkest days in human history.

“Many of those who came to Canada to escape Nazism and Stalinism still bear the scars of the atrocities that were committed against them and their loved ones. These Canadians and their descendants continue to strengthen our democracy and national fabric, and we must never forget their stories.

“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I urge all Canadians to reflect on the significance of this day, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights.”