[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E580-E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2024

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on June 4, we commemorate the 35th 
anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, an event that serves as a 
stark reminder of the brutality of authoritarianism and its tragic 
human costs.
  Thirty-five years ago in 1989, in the heart of Beijing, the world 
witnessed a military crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protesters in 
Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government's violent suppression of 
student-led demonstrations shook the world's conscience, leaving a 
permanent scar on the collective memory of humanity and reminding us of 
the lengths to which authoritarian regimes will go to maintain their 
grip on power. There are credible estimates that more than 200,000 
Chinese army soldiers killed nearly 1,000 people and wounded many 
thousands more. In the decades since the massacre, the Chinese 
Communist Party (CCP) has relentlessly pursued its agenda of control 
and repression, which has stifled dissent and trampled on the 
fundamental rights of its citizens. Freedom of speech, assembly, and 
religion remain severely curtailed, with censorship and surveillance 
pervasive throughout the country. Dissidents, human tights activists, 
and religious

[[Page E581]]

minorities continue to face persecution, imprisonment, and even 
disappearance simply for expressing their beliefs or advocating for 
change.
  The CCP continues its efforts to control the political discourse 
across the entire country and in every territory under its control. The 
crackdown in Hong Kong is one such example. The imposition of the 
draconian National Security Law in 2020 marked a turning point in the 
erosion of the city's autonomy and freedoms. Pro-democracy activists, 
journalists, and political figures have been arrested, charged, and 
silenced under the guise of national security, while Beijing tightens 
its grip on the former British colony. The passage of the Article 23 
legislation, which further restricts basic freedoms of speech and 
assembly, will continue the erosion of the ``one country, two systems'' 
principle, undermining the aspirations of the people of Hong Kong and 
threatening the stability and prosperity of the entire region. For this 
reason, I, along with Congressman Gus Bilirakis, introduced a House 
Resolution that condemns the promulgation of the new Article 23 
legislation and calls on other members of the international community 
to similarly condemn the process of undermining freedoms in Hong Kong.
  While the total number of lives impacted by China's suppression of 
basic freedoms may never be fully known, I am honored to serve as an 
advocate for one person who has witnessed firsthand the brutality of 
the regime. Mr. Ding Jiaxi, a prominent human rights lawyer and 
democracy advocate was wrongfully imprisoned in 2019 for his peaceful 
activism and charged for the crime of ``subversion of state power.'' 
Mr. Ding's courageous efforts to defend the lights of marginalized 
communities and promote greater government accountability made him a 
target of the regime's ruthless crackdown on dissent. His arbitrary 
detention, which included solitary confinement and physical abuse, 
serves as a stark reminder of the grave risks faced by those who dare 
to challenge the authoritarian rule of the CCP. Together with the 
Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms 
Project, I am committed to advocating for his release and reunion with 
his family.
  As we remember the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre and honor 
their memory, we must reaffirm our commitment to the values of 
democracy, human rights, and freedom. We stand in solidarity with the 
people of China, Hong Kong, and all those around the world who continue 
to courageously resist oppression and dream of a better future. Let us 
continue to pursue a world where freedoms are protected, and people 
like Mr. Ding Jiaxi, are not wrongfully imprisoned and silenced, but 
instead honored for their work to improve society. The image of a 
single protestor who stood in the way of a column of tanks rolling 
through the streets of Beijing in June 1989 will continue to inspire 
those who will bravely face brute force for the sake of freedom. In 
confronting tyranny and injustice, we draw inspiration from the courage 
and resilience of those who have dared to challenge authoritarian rule. 
Their struggle is our struggle, and their cause is our cause.

                          ____________________