Choosing Freedom draws from powerful testimonies, personal belongings, and striking archival materials to tell the stories of individuals who fled authoritarian regimes in search of liberty. Through intimate artifacts and firsthand accounts, the exhibition illuminates the enduring human desire for freedom, and the extraordinary courage required to pursue it.
To mark the opening, Hoover will host a special evening chaired by renowned historian and Hoover Senior Fellow Stephen Kotkin. The program will feature human rights activist and Hoover Research Fellow Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who will reflect on her own journey from political oppression to freedom, followed by a discussion with Hoover Fellow Abbas Milani and journalist Joo Sung Ha. Drawing on experiences shaped by the Iranian Revolution, the North Korean regime, and the broader struggle against authoritarianism, participants will explore the meaning of freedom, the costs of tyranny, and the enduring human desire to live in liberty.
This special evening will examine one of the defining questions of the American experiment: Why does freedom remain worth choosing and defending?
In advance of the event, from 4:00 – 4:30 p.m. PT, we welcome all attendees to visit the new Choosing Freedom exhibition in Lou Henry Hoover Gallery in Hoover Tower.
Freedom is often discussed as an idea. For millions, it has been a life-defining choice.
Join us for this unforgettable opening event.
