Speech #970201927

She has stood firm against Soviet officialdoms attempts to erode her will by subjecting her to the machinations of impenetrable bureaucracy which Elena writes "seems to provide no way out and is obviously designed to strangle her hope and spirit." Obviously. the Soviets do not know our Ida. She will continue to fight until she is freed from the bonds of Soviet oppression and intimidation. This is a part of the Soviet policy to deny Jews the right to emigrate to their homeland. There has been an incredible disparity in the emigration figures of 1982 and 197996 percent! According to the figures of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. only 182 Jews were permitted to emigrate from the Soviet Union this past June. compared to 4.500 in June of 1979. only 1.500 in the first 6 months of this year compared with 25.000 for the same period in 1979. These are people we are talking aboutnot just statistics. Ida is a particularly affecting victim of this policy. How ironic that a woman whose only crime has been to assert her entitlement to a basic human right should be in the forefront of those denied their exit visas. We cannot abandon our efforts on behalf of this brave woman. and all the other refuseniks. We must continue to be active in support of Idas efforts to seek redress from the Soviet Union. continue to make ourselves heard so that the Soviet Union will know that Ida is renowned throughout the world as a fighter. a leader. and that she and others like her will not be forgotten. that the United States and all freedomloving people everywhere will raise there voices in protest of the unjust. illegal. and inhumane treatment of Ida Nudel and all other refuseniks.o