Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that establishes a "Victims of Communism Day" in the state and requires students to learn about communism.
DeSantis signed the bill designating Nov. 7 as "Victims of Communism Day" at an event at the Freedom Tower in Miami on Monday.
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The Republican governor also announced he'd approved $25 million in funding for preservation of the Freedom Tower, a historic landmark and important site for the Cuban exile community.
"I think this tower is a reminder that freedom is not free, that you have to fight for your rights and that there are a lot of people out there that would love nothing more than to put you under some form of oppression," DeSantis said.
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Under House Bill 395, high school students in U.S. government class will be required to receive at least 45 minutes of instruction on "Victims of Communism Day" beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.
"We want to make sure that every year folks in Florida but particularly our students will learn about the evils of communism, the dictators that have led communist regimes and the hundreds of millions of individuals who've suffered and continue to suffer under the weight of this discredited ideology," DeSantis said.
DeSantis also announced 26 new road designations, including for three Cubans who fought against the Cuban regime.
