“The free life, but also the political struggles, influenced me to form a special worldview for the freedom of man and the nations.”
Hristo Tatarchev, born in Resen, one of the founders of VMRO in 1893 and first President of Central Committee
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) joins the global Macedonian communities in celebrating August 2nd marking the 117th Anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, and the 76th Anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Assembly for the People’s Liberation of Macedonia, ASNOM, which laid the foundations of an autonomous, free, independent, and sovereign Macedonian state.
UMD honors the memory, bravery, and sacrifices of the victims and fighters. We pledge to triple our efforts to unite Macedonians wherever they may reside, especially in the Republic, and in neighboring countries, which deny basic human rights and religious freedom to their Macedonian minorities. Ilinden is a symbol of what is possible when Macedonians unite, and a testament to our centuries-old struggle.
Being Macedonian should not a liability in the countries we reside in. We, Macedonians, have a duty to preserve, protect, and promote our rich cultural heritage and identity, and be the bridge to our homeland, Macedonia. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, UMD has hosted nearly two dozen educational cultural virtual happenings garnering over 200,000 views online. UMD encourages you to never forget and to recognize the positive contributions our people have made in the societies we immigrated to, leaving a positive image and legacy.