On 4 June 1989 Chinese army troops brutally supressed peaceful protests for freedom and democracy, killing and wounding thousands of people in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, in what has become one of the most infamous days in China’s history.
31 years on, the current human rights situation is itself a tragedy. The Chinese Communist Party continues to violate the rights of citizens across the country, stamping out dissent, stifling freedom of expression, and tightening its stranglehold on the right to freedom of religion or belief.
Today we remember all those who lost their lives in the bloodshed and stand with their families as they continue to seek justice. We also remember those who have since been targeted by China’s oppressive regime, and urge the international community to hold China to account for severe violations of human rights.
On 4 June, we remember…
The victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre: students, workers, academics, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters.
On 4 June, we remember…
The surviving family members of the victims: still seeking justice, truth and closure.
On 4 June, we remember…
Human rights defenders in China today: harassed, threatened, beaten, imprisoned but still courageously fighting for human rights.
On 4 June, we remember…
Oppressed religious communities: Catholics, Protestants, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims, and others.
On 4 June, we remember…
Pastors and Christians who demonstrated in 1989, now seeing their churches forced to close, torn down, dispersed.
On 4 June, we remember…
Those disappeared by the Chinese authorities: Gao Zhisheng, Bishop Su Zhimin, the Panchen Lama.
On 4 June, we remember…
Everyone calling for peace, freedom and human rights: in Hong Kong, in Taiwan, and around the world.
On 4 June, we remember…
Those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression: journalists, bloggers, and online activists.
On 4 June, we remember…
The families of Uyghurs in camps in XUAR: families torn apart, but refusing to forget or stay silent.
On 4 June, we remember…
The perpetrators of these crimes: we call for justice.
On 4 June, we remember…
All those around the world peacefully protesting for justice, peace and human rights. We stand with all of them.
FoRB in Full 