[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 193 (Thursday, November 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE VELVET REVOLUTION

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Iowa is home to a lot of people who have 
a heritage from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. November 17 
is coming up pretty soon, and it marks the 31st anniversary of the 
Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.
  In 1989, the Czech people stood up against Communist rule and, 
through nonviolent demonstrations, precipitated the nation's transition 
to democracy. The Velvet Revolution lasted 43 days and in the end ended 
41 years of Communist control of Czechoslovakia. Jingling keys became a 
symbol of the revolution and of the new doors that democracy and 
freedom from communism would unlock for those great people in 
Czechoslovakia.
  Now we have two countries--the Czech Republic and the Slovak 
Republic. We also have a National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar 
Rapids, IA. This museum helps to educate Americans about these events I 
just talked about and, most importantly, to teach them about the 
importance of never giving up on fighting for freedom.
  I yield the floor.

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