Mr. Speaker. today a group of 100 Jews has begun a sitin and fast in the very heart of the Kremlin. They have vowed to continue this demonstration every day until they are granted permission to. emigrate to Israel. A demonstration of this kind within the Soviet Union is unprecedented. At least. previous reports of such activities have not appeared in the Western press. It is obvious that these people are taking a great risk. Indeed. the risks are so great. that their demonstration is clearly an act of desperation. Many of these people have been deprived of their jobs because of their previously expressed de6ire to emigrate. Many of them have been harassed. some hav been beaten. and others have been arrested. I The Jews in the Soviet Union are denied the rights guaranteed to them by both the Soviet Constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. assuring the right to emigrate. to which the Soviet Government is a signatory. Soviet Jews are denied the right to Worship in their own way. to study Yiddish or Hebrew. to have their own schools. to maintain healthy Jewish cultural activities. such as the Yiddish theater and press. :Mr. Speaker.
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emigrate