MIAMI, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis commemorated “Victims of Communism Day” during a speech at the Miami Freedom Tower.
This year represents the third time that this holiday has been recognized since it was first implemented in 2022.
As the law (HB 395) tells it, Victims of Communism Day is held on Nov. 7 and requires that public schools honor “the 100 million people who have fallen victim to communist regimes across the world” as a result of the failed economic model.
“We remember those who demonstrated courage, made sacrifices and endured hardship while fighting for freedom and against communism,” DeSantis noted. “We must ensure the students learn the lessons of history, recognize the destructiveness of Marxism-Leninism, and appreciate the founding principles of the American republic.”
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Instruction on Victims of Communism Day must include the following topics, including:
- Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution
- Joseph Stalin and the Soviet System
- Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution
- Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution
- Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge
- Nicolás Maduro and the Chavismo movement
But that’s not all. The governor’s office also discussed a new class set to pop up in Florida schools starting with the 2026-2027 school year
WHAT IS IT?
More specifically, a law passed last year (SB 1264) will require public schools to teach about the history of communism.
The coursework involves instruction on communist movements in places like Russia, China, Cuba, and even in the U.S. itself. According to Legislative analysts, instruction must include “age-appropriate” content about the following:
- The history of communism in the U.S. and domestic communist movements
- Atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism
- Comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism
- The increasing threat of communism in the U.S. and to its allies
- The economic, industrial, and political events that have preceded communist revolutions
- The communist policies of Cuba and the spread of communist ideologies throughout Latin America
According to the law’s text, the subject is slated to be taught as part of a school’s social studies or language arts curriculum.
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“Communism has destroyed nations, silenced faith, and robbed generations of their God-given freedoms,” Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said. “Florida stands firmly against this failed ideology and remains committed to teaching the truth about its atrocities.”
The governor’s office said that the state Board of Education is expected to take action on the proposed class standards at its upcoming meeting on Nov. 13.
Watch the news conference below: