A statement for special order regarding the refusenik situation in the Soviet Union, delivered on the US House floor by US Congressman Les AuCoin on July 20, 1982. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin advocated for the thousands of "refuseniks," or Soviet Jews of the late twentieth century who were denied visas to emigrate by the Soviet government. He specifically mentions the story of Ida Nudel, a refusenik who had been trying to leave the Soviet Union for 11 years and had "been subjected to government harassment, social ostracism, KGB arrest, and finally, imprisonment in Siberia under the harshest conditions."
The House floor remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin regarding a "Call to Conscience" vigil on behalf of Solomon Alber, delivered on October 1, 1981. Solomon Alber and his family were among thousands of "refuseniks," or Soviet Jews of the era who were denied visas to emigrate by the Soviet government. The vigil was organized by Congressman Barnes to demonstrate the congressional concern for those oppressed by the Soviet Union.
A speech by U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin titled "Shatter the Silence, Vigil 1979" given on behalf of Solomon Alber and added to the Congressional Record. Solomon Alber and his family were among thousands of "refuseniks," or Soviet Jews of the era who were denied visas to emigrate by the Soviet government. Congressman AuCoin advocated for the Alber family, describing their plight of being outcasted in their career and social communities in the Soviet Union after they were denied emigration visas. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).
In a speech on the U.S. House floor, Congressman Les AuCoin advocated for the release of Soviet dissident Anatoly Shcharansky (who later changed his named to Natan Sharansky) from a Soviet labor camp on the two year anniversary of his arrest. After the Soviet government denied Shcharansky's request to move to Israel, Shcharansky became a "refusenik" activist. He was eventually arrested by the KGB and accused of high treason, among other charges, and imprisoned at a Soviet forced labor camp. He was released by Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).
Two form letters addressing the case of Naum Chernobelsky. The first letter is a "dear colleague" letter from November 1987, requesting that members of congress sign the second letter, which asks Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Soviet Union, to begin the emigration process for Naum Chernobelsky. The Chernobelskys were a Ukrainian Jewish family of "refuseniks," an unofficial term for individuals, most commonly Soviet Jews, whose requests to emigrate from the Soviet Union were denied by officials. In the case of the Chernobelsky family, Naum's parents and sister were able to emigrate to Portland, Oregon in 1979, but he, his wife, and his children were not permitted to leave the Soviet Union. In February 1986, Naum's sister Raisa requested help from Representative AuCoin, who spent the next 2 years lobbying the Soviet Union for Naum Chernobelsky's release. Naum and his family were eventually allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the United States in late 1988. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_111 through PUA_MS147_113 for other materials related to the Chernobelsky family.
Memorandum on December 9th, 1987 to Representative Les AuCoin concerning an upcoming press conference on about Naum Chernobelsky. The Chernobelskys were a Ukrainian Jewish family of "refuseniks," an unofficial term for individuals, most commonly Soviet Jews, whose requests to emigrate from the Soviet Union were denied by officials. In the case of the Chernobelsky family, Naum's parents and sister were able to emigrate to Portland, Oregon in 1979, but he, his wife, and his children were not permitted to leave the Soviet Union. In February 1986, Naum's sister Raisa requested help from Representative AuCoin, who spent the next 2 years lobbying the Soviet Union for Naum Chernobelsky's release. Naum and his family were eventually allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the United States in late 1988. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_111 through PUA_MS147_113 for other materials related to the Chernobelsky family.
Personal journal of Representative Les AuCoin detailing his work on the Chernobelsky case. The Chernobelskys were a Ukrainian Jewish family of "refuseniks," an unofficial term for individuals, most commonly Soviet Jews, whose requests to emigrate from the Soviet Union were denied by officials. In the case of the Chernobelsky family, Naum's parents and sister were able to emigrate to Portland, Oregon in 1979, but he, his wife, and his children were not permitted to leave the Soviet Union. In February 1986, Naum's sister Raisa requested help from Representative AuCoin, who spent the next 2 years lobbying the Soviet Union for Naum Chernobelsky's release. Naum and his family were eventually allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the United States in late 1988. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_111 through PUA_MS147_113 for other materials related to the Chernobelsky family.
