Address Before the Tianamen Square Anniversary Rally
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Remarks by Suzanne Scholte June 4, 2009 for 20th Anniversary of the Tianamen Square I am greatly honored to join this historic rally to commemorate the 20th anniversary of one of the most important moments in Chinese history when student demonstrators gathered in Tianamen Square calling for reform and democracy for China. It is an honor to be here with Dr. Yang Jianli and Jim Geheran and Intiatives for China who have done such a great job organizing today’s event, and other heroes of Tianamen like Fang Zheng and survivor of the Laogai my longtime friend and hero Harry Wu who have been a part of events this week. Imagine for a moment how different the world would be had those student idealists and dreamers at Tianamen prevailed? If China had opened up to reform and gone on a path towards democracy. Imagine for a moment the faces of all the children, especially baby girls, whose lives were lost because of the CCP’s one child policy and their forced abortion policy; Imagine the thousands of North Koreans who have been tortured, imprisoned and executed because the Chinese Government forced them back into North Korea when it could easily allow them safe passage to South Korea. We are all in this together – because we are all deeply affected by what China does politically economically and morally. It is not too late to stop this carnage if we join together especially at this time because we are once again at one of the most important moments in Chinese history and we must not allow this moment to pass again. We can only properly commemorate Tianamen and honor the sacrifices of those who were massacred in 1989 by standing together today in solidarity with the signatories of Charter 08. Once again thousands of Chinese men and women are putting their lives on the line today calling for reform and democracy for China in this historic document. I can never forget the euphoria of watching the Tianamen Square rally – we all believed there would be no turning back – until the CCP unleashed their tanks and assault on unarmed demonstrators. As Fang Zheng has asked, “What kind of government would tell people in tanks to run over their own citizens?” The answer– the same government that is the source of so much misery to its own people and others all over this world. Just as in 1989, the Chinese people – the signers of Charter 08 – are calling for greater freedoms and a path to democracy. We need to stand together with these brave citizens of China and honor those who died at Tianamen, by raising our voices in solidarity with them and calling for an end to the Communist Party in China. Thank you and God bless you for being here. |
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