Victims of Communism Day

Four years ago, Prof. Ilya Somin of George Mason University proposed May 1 as an annual day for commemorating the victims of communism. He wrote:

The authoritative Black Book of Communism estimates the total at 80 to 100 million dead, greater than that caused by all other twentieth century tyrannies combined. We appropriately have a Holocaust Memorial Day. It is equally appropriate to commemorate the victims of the twentieth century's other great totalitarian tyranny. And May Day is the most fitting day to do so. I suggest that May Day be turned into Victims of Communism Day.

The lessons that we learn from communist/socialist history are too valuable to waste. The victims of communism will have died in vain if we do not study it.

Prof. Somin has updated his post for this year (hat tip: Instapundit).

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