Since the early 1990s, the Tiananmen Mothers have persisted in their quest for the truth of June Fourth and justice for those brutally killed. They have painstakingly tracked down victims’ families and survivors to collect their testimony to support their demand for official accountability and to commemorate the lives lost.
We urge everyone to show their solidarity to the Tiananmen Mothers for their efforts—in documenting the humanity of the victims so that they will not be forgotten, and in pressing for an official accounting to redress the brutal crimes against unarmed civilians committed by the authorities—by send public messages of support in the following ways.
Thank you for your support and encouragement to the families of June Fourth victims. The CPC’s effort to erase this episode in history has made some people gradually forget the horror. But time will eventually reveal the truth! I hope you are in good health and everything is well.
September 17, 2021
(United States)
Thank you so much for persisting in seeking truth and justice over so many years. As someone in the post-1989 generation, I admire your efforts and am immeasurably inspiration.
June 8, 2021
Keep up your good work! We support you!
June 6, 2021
(Switzerland)
To the Tiananmen Mothers
It is deplorable that 32 years after the bloodbath that ended a peaceful protest in Tiananmen Square, the survivors are still being silenced and the tragic events are being wiped off the history books. It is also deplorable that, despite the repeated and longstanding call of the Tiananmen Mothers for truth and accountability, anyone in China who lights a candle on 4 June to honor the dead risks punishment.
What happened to the ideals of the Chinese Communists who rose to power in 1949 and adopted a Constitution granting all citizens “freedom of speech, the press, assembly, demonstration, and protest”? These were freedoms that the Communists themselves fought for at a time when the shoe was on the other foot under the rule of Chiang Kai-shek, it was the Communists who were silenced, censored and banned.
In 1936, when Mao Zedong and his followers were still living in caves in Northwest China, my father, American journalist Edgar Snow, traveled there in defiance of a news ban in order to bring back an eye-witness account about the Communists and their aims. That account (Red Star Over China) is now being used to teach history to Chinese students. Many years later, my mother, Lois Wheeler Snow, faced another news ban, this time imposed by the Communists themselves, when she traveled to Beijing in 2000 in an attempt to meet Ding Zilin, a mother whose 17-year-old son was slain during the 1989 events. The authorities prevented the two mothers from meeting, a fact that is not taught to Chinese students.
The journeys undertaken by my parents, both longstanding friends of the Chinese people, were motivated by their conviction that facts must be looked at in the face and attention drawn to oppression and injustice wherever and whenever they occur, no matter who is responsible. Unfortunately, the Chinese government today suppresses facts that it finds uncomfortable. As a result, the country's children are growing up without a full knowledge of their own history and journalists like Edgar Snow cannot freely report history as it unfolds.
Only when all the facts are brought to light and examined honestly can the lessons of history be learned, its errors be redressed and a brighter day for all begin. This holds for all countries, not just China, as its leaders have pointed out. All the more reason for them to let the truth be known about Tiananmen and to allow the survivors to mourn their loved ones with dignity and in peace.
In memory of my parents, and in my own name, I stand in solidarity with the survivors of Tiananmen, who have suffered so much and so long in their quest to make their voices heard. Although the government of China has turned a blind eye to their entreaties for more than 30 years, it cannot hide the truth forever.
Sian Snow
June 4, 2021
(Ireland)
Dear Mothers of the Tiananmen Square massacre victims,
know that even in Ireland, a small country on the far side of the world, the bravery of the Tiananmen Square protesters is never forgotten. And you, their mothers, in your struggle for justice for your children, are never forgotten.
June 4, 2021
(Canada)
I cannot imagine how this day feels for you all, but I praise your strength and resilience. I deeply hope that we can very soon live in a world that does not tolerate human rights abuses and where true leaders stand up for justice. If I were a leader of any Western nation today, I would be condemning China for its continued erasure of June 4th, 1989.
Sending love and solidarity from Canada, and I will never stop talking to others about what happened on June 4th.
June 4, 2021
(United States)
We have not forgotten.
Sending wishes for peace.
June 4, 2021
United States
May 18, Webinar in English: 1989: Tiananmen, the Chinese Democracy Movement, the Massacre, and its Impact, organized by Pozen Family Center For Human Rights presented in partnership with the Department of History and the Center for East Asian Studies, the University of Chicago, 7:40–9pm (CDT).
Speakers: Andrew J. Nathan (Professor of Political Science, Columbia University), Perry Link (Emeritus Professor of East Asian Studies, Princeton University), Louisa Lim (journalist; author of The People’s Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited), Wu’er Kaixi (student leader, Tiananmen Democracy Movement), Teng Biao (Pozen Visiting Professor; academic lawyer and human rights activist) and Johanna Ransmeier (Associate Professor of History and the College, University of Chicago).
May 29, San Francisco, in Chinese: 32nd Anniversary of June 4th Massacre Memorial Events Launching Ceremony: Cleansing of Goddess of Democracy (紀念六四大屠殺32周年活動啟動儀式：清洗民主女神像), organized by Humanitarian China (人道中國), Chinese Democratic Education Foundation (中國民主教育基金會), China Democratic Party (中國民主黨), China Democracy Front (中國民主陣線), NorCal HK Club (北加州香港會) and Support Hong Kong Alliance (支港聯), 1-3pm (PDT), Chinatown Portsmouth Square (舊金山唐人街花園⻆廣場).
June 3, Live Streaming in Chinese/English: 24 hour Live Program on Clubhouse, Zoom, YouTube and Facebook, organized by Humanitarian China (人道中國), 8am (PDT).
June 3, San Francisco, in Chinese: Vigil for June 4th Victims (紀念六四死難者燭光晚會), organized by Humanitarian China (人道中國) et al. , 7pm (PDT), Chinatown Portsmouth Square (舊金山唐人街花園⻆廣場).
June 4, Online Event in English: 2021 Tiananmen Remembrance: A Virtual Commemoration Featuring Wang Xilin‘s Symphony No.3 (勿忘天安门：王西麟第三交响曲在线音乐会) , organized by Citizen Power Initiatives for China, 9-11:30am (EDT)
Opening remarks by Katrina Lantos Swett (President of Tom Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice), Andrew Bremberg (President of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation), Jianli Yang (Founder and President of Citizen Power Initiatives for China), Rory O’Connor (President of Athenai Institute), US Congressional Members and Human Rights Leaders.
Conversation between Master Wang Xilin (Renowned Chinese composer) and Cai Xia (Former Professor at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party).
June 4, Los Angeles, in English: 32nd Anniversary of June 4th Memorial Event and Foundation Stone-laying Ceremony of Victims of Communism Museum (六四32周年紀念活動暨共產主義受難者紀念館奠基儀式), organized by Humanitarian China (人道中國) et al. , 5pm (PDT), Liberty Sculpture Park (加州自由雕塑公園), 37570 Yermo Rd, Yermo, CA 92398.
Republican Representative Chris Smith who is concerned about China’s human rights issues will attend the event.
June 4, Los Angeles, in English: 32nd Anniversary of June 4 Candlelight Vigil (「六四」三十二周年燭光悼念晚會), organized by 洛杉磯香港論壇Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles - Public, 8-9pm (PDT), Chinese Consulate-General, Los Angeles.
June 4, New York, in English: Tiananmen Square Vigil 32nd Anniversary Candlelight Vigil, organized by Lion Rock Café and NY4HK - New Yorkers Supporting Hong Kong, 8pm (EDT), Washington Square Park, New York.
Canada
June 4, Live Stream in Chinese & English: Tiananmen Massacre 32 Years Online Memorial (「六四」32周年網上悼念), organized by Toronto Association for Democracy in China (多倫多支持中國民運會), Calgary Movement for Democracy in China and Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, 6-7pm Toronto, 4pm-5pm Calgary, 3pm Vancouver.
Speakers: Fang Zheng (Tiananmen Survivor whose legs were crushed by a tank), Chow Hang Tung (VP, Hong Kong Alliance), Tiananmen Mothers, Senator Jim Munson (ON – Ottawa / Rideau Canal), MP Hedy Fry (BC – Vancouver Centre), MP Michael Chong (ON – Wellington – Halton Hills), MP Jenny Kwan (BC – Vancouver East), Retired Senator Con Di Nino and Ketty Nivyabandi (Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada).
Hong Kong
May 7, 17, 21 and late June, Webinar(s) in Cantonese & Chinese: June 4th 32nd Anniversary Webinar Series (【六四32周年】2021年「回顧中共百年，展望中國未來」網上系列講座), organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China.
Speakers: Dr. Guoguang Wu (Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Victoria), Albert Ho Chun-yan (Vice-chair of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China), Wang Dan (student leader, Tiananmen Democracy Movement) and Johnny Lau Yui-Siu (Hong Kong political commentator).
June 4, Online Event in Cantonese: #6432Justice Candlelight in every corner of HK (遍地燭光悼六四), organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, 8pm (GMT+8).
Light a candle, wherever you are and upload your photo of candlelight with the hashtag #6432Justice. Also sign online condolence book for the victims of ‘June 4th’ crackdown in 1989 (「六四」死難者弔唁冊).
June 4, in Cantonese: Requiem Mass (追思亡者彌撒), organized by Justice & Peace Commission of the H.K. Catholic Diocese, 8pm (GMT+8), seven different churches in Hong Kong.
Taipei
May 5, 12, May21 and June 2, Seminar(s) & Webinar(s) in Chinese: June 4th 32nd Anniversary Seminar Series (「中國六四屠殺32周年」系列座談會), organized by New School for Democracy (華人民主書院).
May 21, Webinar in Chinese: June 4th 32nd Anniversary Webinar Series(六四32周年系列座談會 -『從台灣經驗看六四的流離與前瞻』) , organized by New School for Democracy (華人民主書院) and National Taiwan University Graduate Student Association (台灣大學研究生協會), 6:30-8:30pm (GMT+8).
Speakers: Wu Renhua (Chinese scholar and participant in the Tiananmen Square protests) and Tseng Po-yu (Sunflower movement spokeswoman).
June 2, Webinar in Chinese: June 4th 32nd Anniversary Webinar Series(六四32周年系列座談會 -『履帶與花：看中台兩地的歷史分岔 』) , organized by New School for Democracy (華人民主書院) and National Chengchi University Student Association (國立政治大學學生會), 7-9pm (GMT+8).
Speakers: Wu Renhua (Chinese scholar and participant in the Tiananmen Square protests) and Wu Ping-Jui (Democratic Progressive Party Legislator).
June 4, Online Event in Chinese: June 4th Vigil (六四晚會 - 『人權照亮民主 同行抵抗極權 』) , organized by New School for Democracy (華人民主書院), 8-9:30pm (GMT+8).
Europe
June 4, London, United Kingdom, in English: June 4th Vigil, organized by London Remembers June 4th, 8-10pm (GMT+1), outside the Chinese Embassy, 49-59 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL.
June 4, Berlin, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, Frankfurt and Köln, Germany, in German/Cantonese: Mahnwache zum Tiananmen-Massaker am 4. Juni (薪火相傳悼六四燭光晚會), organized by Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V, 8:30-9:15pm (GMT+2), Berlin: Brandenburger Tor, Bonn: Münsterplatz, Düsseldorf: Konrad-Adenauer-Platz , Heidelberg: Marktplatz, Frankfurt: Römerberg and Köln: Bahnhofvorplatz.
