Joint Statement on the 35th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre

This year, they were prevented from even gathering to commemorate the anniversary. Yet, every year, they persist in speaking out and making sure their voices are heard. We honor their work and urge the international community to uplift their voices and support their efforts. 

 

In Hong Kong, for decades, the people of the city gathered each year to commemorate the anniversary of June Fourth. Yet, since 2019, the government has sought to erase the word “Tiananmen.” Those who sought to keep the memory alive have faced harsh penalties, as Hong Kong has cracked down on free speech and peaceful assembly. We honor woman human rights defender Chow Hang-tung and the organizers of the June Fourth Vigil, who are imprisoned now for their beliefs. We honor college student Zeng Yuxuan, who was imprisoned merely for planning to display a banner commemorating June Fourth, and who has now disappeared in the Mainland. 

 

The events of 1989 were a pivotal point for China. The people’s voice showed the way to a new beginning, but the government chose, instead, to violently silence the protestors and lead the country down a path opposed to human rights. Over the last 35 years, the number of political prisoners has only increased, as any dissent or civil society action is seen as a threat to the power of the government. Repression of free speech and information is an integral part of the Communist Party of China (CCP)’s rule. 

 

In 1989, the world watched in awe, and then in horror, as the Chinese people bravely stood up and were brutally pushed down. Yet, after the massacre, the United States and other democratic countries chose to embrace the CCP government in the name of trade and investment, allowing it repress Tibetans to the point of self-immolation, and deprive Hong Kong of its freedom. We strongly urge the international community to prioritize China’s human rights record rather than self-censoring for the sake of short-term economic gains.