Tonight, we keep vigil. Tomorrow morning, wind up the clock and begin another day of our fight for freedom and justice

 

Original text: English (attached)
Translation: Deyu Wang

June 3, 2021

　　Tonight we gather together again, as one big family, to remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the Tiananmen Massacre 32 years ago. We have different backgrounds and different experiences, but we share a common mission and commitment.

　　Thirty-two years have passed. Despite the passage of time, this page of history remains unturned because justice was never served. On the contrary, the Chinese government continues to commit one atrocity after another and still remains unpunished.

　　The same regime that massacred students on the streets of Beijing is now committing countless other repressive atrocities. Its victims include Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians, Christians and Falun Gong, as well as independent academics, journalists, lawyers, private entrepreneurs and human rights activists.

　　Today, under the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party, human rights violations have reached unprecedented levels since June 4th. Even in my darkest moment on the morning of June 4, 1989-when I witnessed tanks crushing students on Chang’an Street in Beijing, I would never have imagined that the CCP’s brutal suppression would continue unabated more than three decades later.

　　As survivors, we commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre not only to remember the victims, but more importantly, to persist in the continued struggle. Facing the most powerful dictatorship in the world, fighting for freedom and justice is like a tank man standing in front of a convoy of tanks. It requires great courage and sacrifice.

　　Now is the time to test our values ​​and beliefs, to reconnect what we say we believe with what we do. This is deeper than our coming together and brighter than the candle in our hands. Justice must be served—that is our mission and our commitment.

　　As American writer E.B. White once wrote:

　　As long as there is an upright man in the world, and as long as there is a compassionate woman in the world, there will definitely be more such people, and the scene will not be desolate. Hope is what is left to us in difficult times. I would get up on Sunday morning, wind up the clock, and do my part for order and perseverance. »

　　Tonight, we keep a vigil, and tomorrow morning, we wind up the clocks and begin another day of our fight for freedom and justice.

Attached: English original text

  We gather tonight once again as one family to remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives during the Tiananmen Square Massacre 32 years ago. We come from different backgrounds and our individual stories are unique, but we share the same calling and commitment.

  Thirty-two years have passed. Despite the passage of time, this page of history has yet to be turned, because justice has never been served. On the contrary, the Chinese government continues to commit atrocity after atrocity, largely with impunity.

  The same regime that slaughtered students in the streets of Beijing is now engaged in countless other acts of oppression. Its victims include Hongkongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians Christians Falun Gong practitioners, as well as independent intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, private entrepreneurs and human rights activists.

  Today, under the tyrannical CCP regime, human rights violations are at an all-time high. Even in my darkest moment on the morning of June 4th, 1989, when I witnessed tanks rolling over students on Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue, I never would have imagined that the CCP’s tyrannical oppression would continue unabated some three decades later.

  As survivors, we commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre not only as a memorial for the victims, but, more importantly, as recognition of the continued struggle. In the face of the world’s most powerful dictatorship, fighting for freedom and justice is like the Tank Man standing in front of a convoy of tanks—it takes unparalleled courage and sacrifice.

  This is the time for us to test our underlying values and beliefs, to reconnect what we say we believe with what we do. It is deeper than getting together and brighter than the candles we are holding. Justice must be served—this is our calling and our commitment.

  As American writer E.B. White once wrote:

   “As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread, and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.”

  Tonight, we hold a vigil. Tomorrow morning, we will wind our clocks and begin another day in our fight for freedom and justice.