Washington DC: Many Attend Candlelight Memorial Remembering Tiananmen Square Martyrs | Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

On May 30 near the Washington Monument in Washington DC, many people joined the candlelight memorial event sponsored by Remember64.org to see the photo exhibit of Spring 1989 events, listen to a concert by various musicians and a chorus, listen to speeches by guests, and to light candles remembering the martyrs for freedom killed on June 4, 1989 in Beijing.

May 30, 2009 Candlelight Vigil for Tiananmen Square Martyrs - DC's Washington Monument

An estimated 150-200 people attended the Remember64.org organization’s event near the Washington Monument on the evening of May 30, 2009. Attendees held lighted candles from dusk until 9:30 PM as the speakers recounted the events of the Tiananmen Square protests, speakers recounted the need to remember the protesters and their cause in fighting for freedom in China, and Ms. Bei Ming read the names of the individuals known to be killed in the Beijing massacre of those protesting for freedom and democracy.

The Remember64.org organization had a photo display of many events that took place during the Spring 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square. From 7 to 8 PM, there was a concert by musicians Demian Yumei, Stacy Young, Zane, and Chris Davis. The Fairfax Choral Society Youth Chorus sang “Lift Thine Eyes” and “I Waited for the Lord.”

The speakers included:
— Mr. Zheng Fang, former Tiananmen student, and a gold medalist and record holder of the All-China Paralympics Games. Mr. Zheng Fang lost both of his legs under the tracks of a tank during the Communist Chinese government’s massacre of the Tiananmen Square protests on June 4, 1989. Mr. Zheng Fang was presented with flowers by attendees at the event. Mr. Zheng Fang rescued a fainting female student during the tanks rolling over and killing Tiananmen Square protesters on June 4, 1989, but lost both of his legs as a result of his heroic efforts. Remember64.org writes that “In 1992, he won gold medals in discus and javelin throwing in the All-China Paralympics Games. However his dream of playing in Special Olympics was crushed. The Chinese government deprived him the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Paralympics because he has become a living symbol to the Beijing massacre.” I was privileged to meet Mr. Zheng Fang and shake the hand of such a living legend of heroism.

— Dr. Wang Dan, former Tiananmen student, and visiting scholar of Oxford University. Remember64.org writes that “Wang Dan was one of the most visible of the student leaders in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. After the June 1989 crackdown, he went into hiding and was arrested in 1990. He was sentenced to four years in prison in 1991. After being released on parole in 1993, he continued to write publicly and was re-arrested in 1995. He was sentenced in 1996 to 11 years. He was released on medical parole on 1998 and has been living in exile in the United States since. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 2008.” Dr. Wang Dan has called for all to wear white on June 4, 2009 “to remember the dead in a ‘white China.'”

— Dr. Wang Dan also made the following remarks during the May 30, 2009 candlelight vigil ceremony at the Washington Monument: “Why do we remember June 4, 1989? It was the brightest time in Chinese history 20 years ago, when thousands of students and civilians took to the streets to express their dream for democracy and freedom; it was the darkest moment in Chinese history on the day of June 4, 20 years ago, when the Chinese government resorted to bloody crackdown and machines of war, and suppressed the democratic movement. Today we remember June 4, because we must not forget those who died in the tragedy, who sacrificed their lives for their dream. They are the real heroes of our people. We remember June 4, because the 1989 democratic movement told the world that we Chinese are people of dignity; that we not only want to live a life of material abundance, but also a life of freedom and social justice. China has changed tremendously in the past twenty years. Among all those dazzling changes, some such as economic development justifying all social issues, such as the moral decaying of the society, are the direct consequence of the June 4 crackdown. Many things remain the same, such as the one-party rule and corruptions, which, again, are the direct consequence of the June 4 crackdown. We would not be able to understand the China of today without understanding ‘June 4, 1989.’ In the past twenty years, our pursuit of democracy has been met with countless obstacles and difficulties. However, we can stand here today and proudly declare that we are still holding on to our dream. This is our spiritual heritage of the 1989 democratic movement. Finally, I ask you to find all possible ways to appeal to people in China that, on this coming June 4, we shall all wear white to remember the dead in a ‘white China.'”

— Many of the attendees at the May 30 candlelight vigil were wearing white.

— Dr. Lee Edwards, Chariman, The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation also spoke. Dr. Edwards reminded the crowd that the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation also plans a candlelight vigil remembering the 1989 Beijing massacre at the Victims of Communism Memorial – at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave., NW, and New Jersey Ave., NW – on Wednesday evening, June 3, starting at 7 PM. The Victims of Communism Memorial has a replica of the “Goddess of Democracy” created by the Tiananmen Square protesters that was unveiled by the protesters on May 30, 1989. Dr. Edwards addressed his experience being invited to speak about American political views in Communist China, and addressing the failures of Communism including the deaths as a result of Mao’s Great Leap Forward, and also addressing the Tiananmen Square massacre. Dr. Edwards remarked that those listening in the assembly in Communist China refused to comment on the Tiananmen Square massacre. Dr. Edwards also called for the current Communist Chinese government leadership to acknowledge the Tiananmen Square massacre.

— Mr. Tao Ye, a co-founder of the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars in the U.S. (IFCSS) and a manager of the Tiananmen Mothers website also spoke. Per Remember64.org “Tiananmen Mothers, a group of mothers who pulled together after their children were killed, are direct bearers of this immense tragedy. The Tiananmen Mothers movement is the continuation and practice of the 1989 democratic movement, in the form of humanitarianism. Tiananmen Mothers is a classic example of the Chinese civil rights movement. Tiananmen Mothers is the trailblazer of the Chinese humanitarian movement. Tiananmen Mothers is the elaborator and propagator of modern values for ordinary people. Tiananmen Mothers is an indispensable civil force in this transforming stage of the Chinese society. Tiananmen Mothers is the first case of civil rights movement in modern China. It has subsisted in its native land for 20 years, from spontaneous assembly, to conscientious resistance, and finally, into the Non-Cooperation Movement of the Chinese Citizens. It is Tiananmen Mothers who have given faces to part of the Beijing Massacre victims, whose names we will read today. Each and every one of their testimonies is part of history. Their motto ‘Speak the truth; Never forget; Seek justice; Call on conscience’ is immortal.”

— The attendees lit their candles and the names of the known individuals killed in 1989 Beijing massacre were read by Ms. Bei Ming.

— Finally, the attendees were led by Demian and the Faifax Choral Society Youth Chorus in singing “We Shall Overcome.”

Additional Images of May 30, 2009 Candlelight Memorial:

Mr. Zheng Fang – Heroic Member of Tiananmen Square Protests who saved a life of a fellow protestor and lost his legs doing so