Hialeah Mayor Steve Bovo (R) took part in a press conference this week, honoring Victims of Communism Day. Also taking part in the press conference were Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. (R) and Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez (R) among other dignitaries to champion HB 395.
The DeSantis administration has stood firm against communism, and by signing HB 395, November 7th has been designated as Victims of Communism Day. Having signed the bill in May of 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) expressed that "honoring the people that have fallen victim to communist regimes and teaching our students about those atrocities is the best way to ensure that history does not repeat itself," adding that his administration was "guaranteeing that the history of those who fled communist regimes and their experiences are preserved and not forgotten by our students."
During the press conference held this week, Mayor Bovo discussed why the bill is important to the Sunshine State.
"Florida, our community, is home to millions of individuals who came here seeking freedom from countries controlled by Communist governments, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua," Bovo explained.
Taking to social media to share his comments, Bovo detailed that the legislation establishes "a yearly day during which students in Florida's schools will learn about the atrocities committed by Communist regimes and the more than 100 million people who were persecuted and lost their lives in Communist countries."
"Victims of Communism Day is an opportunity for students of all ages and Floridians of all backgrounds to learn about the dangers posed by socialism around the world," Mayor Bovo added.
Nuñez, herself “the daughter of Cuban exiles,” also shared her backstory on social media, saying that she understands “firsthand the devastating impact communism has had on the people of Cuba.”
In Florida, we tell the truth about communism. #VictimsOfCommunismDay pic.twitter.com/ofmWlXvNmC
— Jeanette Nuñez (@LtGovNunez) November 7, 2022
“In Florida, we will not allow that dangerous ideology of communism to permeate into our society, and we will continue to educate our children about the atrocities that have happened at the hands of communist dictators,” she said, praising the DeSantis administration for taking a “stand for freedom” and opposing “those who want to take it away from us.”
