the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Please join the Ridgewood Public Library for a conversation with the Cambodian musician, human rights activist, and a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Chorn-Pond, subject of the National Book Award-nominated Never Fall Down, is an advocate for the healing and transformative power of the arts. Book signing & Q&A to follow. 6:30 pm: reception. 7 pm: program.
The Khmer Rouge regime was a radical communist government that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Led by Pol Pot, the regime aimed to create an agrarian, classless society by forcibly transforming Cambodia into a rural, self-sufficient nation. Their extreme policies included forced labor, mass executions, and a brutal campaign to eradicate perceived enemies, intellectuals, and urban populations. The Khmer Rouge’s reign was marked by horrific atrocities, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people due to execution, forced labor, and famine. Their catastrophic rule ended in 1979 when Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia, toppling the Khmer Rouge government. The regime’s legacy is one of the darkest chapters in modern history, characterized by genocide, suffering, and the decimation of Cambodia’s social fabric.
Chorn-Pond will be speaking at Ridgewood High School and Willard earlier in the day. This evening’s event rounds out a full day of engagement with Ridgewood, and we look forward to welcoming him to RPL. Cosponsored by the Ridgewood Cambodia Project. Questions, please contact Roberta: rpanjwani@ridgewoodlibrary.org
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