On the death of Lee Edwards, American patriot, writer, scholar  

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The Center for a Free Cuba released earlier today the following statement:

Sirley Ávila León surrounded June 21, 2016 by, from left to right, Karl Altau, managing director of the Joint Baltic American National Committee; Don Ritter, Lee Edwards, and Marion Smith of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation; and translator John Suarez (Photo: Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation)

The death of Dr. Lee Edwards in Arlington, Virginia, at age 92 is a great loss for millions of people around the world who struggle against communism and for human rights. Indeed his passing is also sad news for Cubans in the island and in the diaspora who will always remember his tireless advocacy on behalf of the victims of Fidel and Raul Castro’s dictatorship.

Dr. Edwards’ writings were translated into many languages. He insisted that opposition to human rights violations should not be determined by the ideology of the oppressors. He was a keen observer of foreign affairs, and supported a U.S. foreign policy that took into account the national interest, and the fate of untold millions on every continent. Late last year, in a discussion about Latin America, he reminded us that China, Iran, and Russia could not be ignored.

Events unfolding in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba this past year proved him right.

He would have been happy to learn that many of the young students he mentored, remain active. He would have welcomed Bashir Assad’s downfall, and he would have been cautiously optimistic about the future of the Syrian people.

Together with the late Ambassador Lev Dobriansky he founded the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Lee Edwards was a champion for the victims of tyranny and oppression, and he urged the international community to assist them.

The executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba, John Suarez, stated: “Lee Edwards was a good man, and great friend of freedom around the world, and an implacable foe against tyranny. It will not be long before the extent, significance, and importance of Lee Edward’s life is fully known in a free Cuba, and the role he played in planting seeds of freedom there. We are also grateful that in his last published Tweets he amplified the voices of Cuban protesters in July 2021.”

The Center for a Free Cuba extends its deepest condolences to his children; grandchildren as well as to the rest of his family, colleagues and friends. 

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