LRB-2808/1
CMH:emw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
May 2, 2023 - Introduced by Senators James,
Cabral-Guevara,
Felzkowski, Nass
and Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Tittl,
Armstrong, Binsfeld,
Dittrich, Edming, Gundrum, S. Johnson, Kitchens, Magnafici, Moses,
Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Petryk,
Rettinger, Rozar and Steffen. Referred to Committee on Senate
Organization.
SJR37,1,2
1Relating to: proclaiming June 12, 2023, as Ronald Reagan Freedom Day in
2Wisconsin.
SJR37,1,53
Whereas, on June 12, 1987, the United States had been in a cold war with the
4Soviet Union for more than 40 years, and President Ronald Reagan was delivering
5a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin; and
SJR37,1,86
Whereas, during that 40-year period of Soviet power, many people faced
7persecution and fled to the western European nations and beyond in order to escape
8tyranny and find freedom; and
SJR37,1,119
Whereas, the Communist government of the German Democratic Republic
10built a wall of barbed wire and concrete separating East and West Berlin, primarily
11to stem mass defections from East to West; and
SJR37,1,1412
Whereas, the wall made it very difficult for people to escape Soviet Communism
13in Germany and unite with their families in West Berlin, evidenced by at least 171
14people dying trying to get over, under, or around the wall; and
SJR37,2,2
1Whereas, during his speech, Ronald Reagan remarked to the Soviet president,
2“Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate; Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”; and
SJR37,2,73
Whereas, on November 9, 1989, when the head of the East German Communist
4Party announced that citizens of the German Democratic Republic could cross the
5border whenever they pleased, ecstatic crowds swarmed the wall—some crossing
6freely into West Berlin, while others hammered and chipped away at the wall itself;
7and
SJR37,2,108
Whereas, more than two million people from East Berlin visited West Berlin
9that weekend, participating in a celebration that was, as one journalist described it,
10“the greatest street party in the history of the world”; now, therefore, be it
SJR37,2,13
11Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the
12Wisconsin Legislature hereby commemorate that historic speech and declare June
1312, 2023, as Ronald Reagan Freedom Day in Wisconsin.
