Quote

Address at the Day of Affirmation at the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

June 6, 1966

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Cape Town, South Africa

I am unilaterally opposed to Communism because it exalts the state over the individual and the family, and because of the lack of freedom of speech, of protest, of religion and of the press, which is the characteristic of totalitarian states. The way of opposition to Communism is not to imitate its dictatorship, but to enlarge individual human freedom—in our own countries and all over the globe. There are those in every land which label as “communist” every threat to their privilege. But as I have seen on my travels in all sections of the world, reform is not communism. And the denial of freedom, in whatever name, only strengthens the very Communism it claims to oppose.

New year, new us. Same mission.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is rebranding to honor the legacy of our founder and hero, Mrs. Ethel Skakel Kennedy. From now on, we will proudly be known as the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

While our name is changing, our mission and work remain the same. We will continue to fight injustice, advance human rights, and hold governments accountable around the world in 2026 and beyond.