|
|
| |
Dear San Franciscan,
Twenty-five years ago, a people rose up in Tiananmen Square to demand their rights, to demand dignity and respect, to demand a voice. They wanted an end to corruption and a beginning of real economic and political reform. They wanted freedom of expression and assembly. They wanted a dialogue and progress – and they were demonstrating peacefully when tanks came rolling down the street toward the square. A young man stood alone before them, an image of defiance, of determination, of courage, seared into our minds forever.
Since the days following the massacre, I have acted as a tireless advocate to see that these human rights violation that the Chinese government committed against its own people be brought to light. In 1991, I stood in the square and unfurled a banner in honor of those who sacrificed so much to gain the freedoms they so rightfully deserved. Eighteen years later, as Speaker of the House, I had the opportunity to sit
across from the President of China, the Premier of China, and the Chairman of the People's Congress to express to them the bipartisan concern in the Congress of the United States regarding China's human rights record both in China and in Tibet. As I have said time and time again: if we do not support human rights in China and in Tibet, we lose all moral authority to speak about human rights any place in the world.
In 1991, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi stood in Tiananmen Square holding a banner that read, “To those who died for democracy in China”, in honor of the Chinese men and women who were killed in the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Twenty-five years after this terrible tragedy, the spirit of Tiananmen Square endures, yet challenges remain. The Chinese government censors any mention of the events of June 4th. Liu Xiaobo remains the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, a symbol of all who languish in prison for exercising their rights. Chinese officials abuse and intimidate the families of activists with impunity, and the human rights situation in China and Tibet continues to deteriorate.
Though many Chinese don’t know the truth about Tiananmen, they do know that government corruption is rampant; that the rule of law is not applied in a fair manner; that air and water pollution threatens their health and environment; that injustice is perpetrated without any redress of grievances.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi delivers remarks on the House Floor in remembrance of the 25th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989 to honor the heroes of Tiananmen – Chinese students, workers, and citizens who peacefully assembled to demand the end of corruption and the acceleration of democratic reform.
To learn more about my work in Congress, please visit my website or sign up for my weekly e-newsletter.
| |
best regards,
|
|
|
|
 |
This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense
Click here to if you would like to unsubscribe from this mailing
|
|
Washington, DC
235 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Map it!
|
|
District Office
90-7th Street Suite 2-800
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 556-4862
Map it!
|
|
|
|
