Roll Call for Freedom: A Ceremony Honoring Political Prisoners
Date
October 30, 2026 – 5:00PM
– 7:00PM EDT
Location
Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Around the world, journalists, civic leaders, artists, religious figures, and others are imprisoned for exercising fundamental freedoms. Behind every name is a person whose imprisonment has separated families, silenced vital voices, and deprived communities of courageous leadership.
To mark the International Day of Political Prisoners, Freedom House, the October 30 Coalition, and the National Endowment for Democracy invite the public to gather at the Lincoln Memorial for a ceremony honoring political prisoners and those working for their freedom.
During the event, participants will read the names of prisoners from countries across the world, ensuring that their stories are heard in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The ceremony will also recognize those released during the past year and remember those who died in forced detention. It will conclude with a joint call for free people everywhere to defend the rights of political prisoners, press for their release, and support their families.
The October 30 Coalition brings together organizations working to raise awareness of the International Day of Political Prisoners and advance the freedom of political prisoners worldwide. Its members are the 30 October Foundation, Free Russia Foundation, Freedom House, World Liberty Congress, the McCain Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Lantos Foundation, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, the Human Rights Foundation, and Free Them One by One.
This public ceremony is open to all registered attendees. We invite former prisoners, families, advocates, members of the diplomatic community, journalists, and all those committed to fundamental freedoms to take part.
Additional program details and participating organizations will be announced.