[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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 Con

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stitution 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.
BARACK OBAMA