May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day, and democratic and human rights organizations from the United States, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, and other countries jointly held protests. The coalition aimed to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s establishment of the Great Firewall (GFW) for stifling information freedom and strongly demanded the immediate release of dissident Qiao Xinxin (real name Yang Zewei), who was detained for initiating the “Break the Wall Movement,” as well as other political prisoners detained by the Chinese Communist Party.
Chairman Wang Juntao of the China Democracy Party organized teams in New York and Los Angeles to hold rallies at local Chinese consulates. Protesters raised banners saying “Topple the Great Firewall” and “Freedom of Press is Innocent,” emphasizing that China’s internet censorship not only restricts the information rights of Chinese citizens but also challenges global information security and democratic values.
Democratic Party member Peng Shuo from Los Angeles highlighted during his speech that the Great Firewall of China is not just a “network management tool” but a machine of information blockade that is a crucial part of the Chinese Communist Party’s stability maintenance system.
“Why build a wall? It’s simple—whoever controls the information, controls the ‘truth.’ What you see and believe has been filtered.
“Once information is monopolized, judgments will be distorted. Many historical events, many real problems, you simply cannot access complete information, so making an independent judgment is impossible.
“Even more serious is that this information control directly affects the public’s cognition. When life is not good, they will tell you it’s the fault of ‘external hostile forces,’ making you hate others instead of considering the real source of the problem.
“If information is open, you will find many conclusions completely different.
“Thus, tearing down the Great Firewall is not just about accessing the outside internet, but it’s about giving people the chance to connect with the real world and rebuild their judgement.
“For this reason, those who try to break through the information blockade are resisting the entire control system, facing risks and costs. But without information freedom, genuine choice is not possible, let alone real freedom.
“I support those working to dismantle the Great Firewall and hope that the Communist Party will soon collapse, so that the Chinese people can live freely and democratically.”
Democratic Party member Zhou Yunlong in San Francisco expressed during his speech, “Today is May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, aimed at promoting the basic principles of press freedom and protecting media independence from interference. However, the Chinese Communist Party’s actions go against this, with domestic television stations, newspapers, and online media subject to news censorship everywhere, leaving people with no access to truth.
“The Great Firewall surrounds China as an information island, controlling information for its people. Now with the enactment of the Cybersecurity Law, it signals the Chinese Communist Party’s internet management model transitioning from one led by the Cyberspace Administration to a ‘police model’ led by the Ministry of Public Security.
“1. Judicial jurisdiction breaks geographical restrictions. Even if you are overseas, if your speech does not meet Chinese Communist Party standards, it could be defined as ‘illegal.’
“2. Weaponizing false information, anyone deemed spreading rumors can be punished.
“3. Those identified as committing crimes against China through online means will be held accountable.
“4. Establishing additional sanctions, being able to control relevant personnel as needed.
“5. Explicitly prohibiting individuals or organizations from scaling the wall or assisting others to do so can result in imprisonment.
“The Chinese Communist Party is attempting to sever the last connection between China’s internet and the global internet at a legal level.
“Qiao Xinxin (real name Yang Zewei), former contract journalist for Radio Free Asia and initiator of the Break the Wall Movement, wrote the ‘Wall Breaking Bible’ to assist others in scaling the wall. In 2023, he was arrested by the Chinese authorities in Laos and sentenced to five years for subverting state power. Everything Qiao Xinxin did was confrontational to the Chinese Communist Party. Together, let’s shout: ‘Dismantle the Great Firewall, information control is illegal,’ and ‘Free Qiao Xinxin, long live freedom of speech.'”
Organized by Ji Jian, activists gathered in front of the Chinese consulate for a large-scale rally. During the event, Ji Jian called on the international community to pay attention to the Chinese Communist Party’s fear of free information, pointing out that breaking the wall is not just a technological struggle but also a cognitive enlightenment.
The U.S. team of the Break the Wall Movement, led by Chen Zhu, held a parallel event in New York. Chen Zhu emphasized during the rally that the Great Firewall is the “Berlin Wall of the digital age,” and Qiao Xinxin’s arrest came as he attempted to challenge this high barrier.
Prominent activist Wang Shoufeng organized a support action in Germany. During the event, he called on European society to pay attention to the multinational repression by the Chinese Communist Party and stressed that Qiao Xinxin’s case is a typical example of cross-border repression.
In Denmark, Liu Dongling, one of the initiators of the Break the Wall Movement, actively participated in the local protest. She stated in Denmark that press freedom and the right to access information are universal values, urging the Danish government and the international community to pay attention to the repression of cross-border human rights activists by the Chinese Communist Party.
Similarly, in Iceland, Zhou Feng also initiated a protest, calling on Nordic society to pressure the Chinese Communist Party to ensure citizens’ communication and internet usage rights.
The protests were carried out simultaneously in multiple countries, with participants urging governments to prioritize “toppling the Great Firewall” and “human rights issues” in their diplomatic and trade relations with the Chinese authorities.
Participants stated that despite Qiao Xinxin being detained, the spirit of tearing down walls has deeply resonated with people. Overseas pro-democracy forces will continue to push for technological countermeasures and legal advocacy until internet freedom is fully restored to the hands of the Chinese people.