Every year, World Freedom Day is widely celebrated in the United States of America (USA) on November 9 . It is an annual observance in the USA where youths take to streets and mark the day. The historic day was first declared in 2001 by then President George W Bush to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe. Bush had declared World Freedom Day as a national holiday and since 2001, it has been observed by the United States.

History of World Freedom Day

The day started in 2001 and is celebrated every year on November 9. The Berlin Wall was a barrier that was erected in Berlin in 1961 during the Cold War, which divided the city into two parts. According to history, East Berlin was de facto capital of East Germany (German Democratic Republic). It was a Soviet-occupied sector of Berlin. West Berlin was a free city politically closely affiliated with West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany). World Freedom Day 2019: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Meets US Troops in Southern Germany.

On November 9, 2005, President Bush proclaimed November 9 as World Freedom Day. On November 8, 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed World Freedom Day as November 9, 2016. On November 8, 2017, President Donald Trump proclaimed November 9, 2017, as World Freedom Day.

In the USA, conservative youth groups such as Young America's Foundation and the College Republicans urge students to mark this day as the start of "Freedom Week" by "celebrating victory over communism. The youths come up with provocative flyer campaigns and activism projects. World Press Freedom Index Report 2019: India Slips to 140 Out of 180 Countries

Many conservative political commentators and activists use World Freedom Day as an occasion in which to acclaim President Ronald Reagan, whom they regard as being responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

Significance of World Freedom Day

World Freedom Day is commemorated mainly by conservative youth groups and activists who perceive it as celebration of the victory over communism. It was on November 9,1989 that the East German government announced that East Germans could visit West Berlin and West Germany, thus beginning the fall of the wall.

According to history, people started demolishing the wall and collecting part of it as souvenirs. On this day, people of the nation acknowledge and celebrate the freedom granted to them as the citizen of a free and sovereign nation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 09, 2019 01:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).