In the midst of intense conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, a large sculpture titled “Defend Free Ukraine,” created by a Chinese sculptor, was recently unveiled in Southern California. The universal theme of the sculpture resonated with guests from various backgrounds and elevated the local commemoration of the 37th anniversary of June 4th to a climax.
Last Saturday afternoon, under the scorching sun in the Yermo Desert where Freedom Sculpture Park is located, a hundred and fifty guests gathered enthusiastically despite the swirling dust stirred by the heat. Amidst applause from the crowd, founder of Freedom Sculpture Park Chen Weiming, founding member of the China Democratic Party Zhu Yufu, June 4th eyewitness Fang Zheng, and Chairman of the Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center Taras Semchyshyn, along with other guests, unveiled a large American flag covering the sculpture.
The group sculpture depicts three Ukrainian soldiers rescuing a surviving child from the rubble: a female soldier on the left holding a drone controller, a soldier in the middle cradling a young girl with a solemn expression overlooking the debris at their feet, and a soldier on the right holding a gun observing the distance. The shattered concrete slabs beneath them depict the brutal and merciless nature of war.
Sculptor Chen Weiming, in his speech, expressed gratitude to the guests who had traveled from afar. He explained the original intention behind his creation, stating, “I wanted to convey a simple yet important message: freedom is never free.”
Chen Weiming noted that June 6th is a special day: on this day in 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy, where countless lives were sacrificed to secure freedom for Europe and the world. 250 years ago, numerous predecessors traded their blood and lives for American independence. During the events of June 4th 37 years ago, the Chinese people also made significant sacrifices for freedom.
“I hope to convey through this sculpture that freedom needs to be protected,” Chen Weiming said. He emphasized the need for mutual support and encouragement in the free world to collectively defend the hard-earned freedom.
Vice-Chairman of the Democratic China Front, Jin Xiuhong, expressed gratitude to Chen Weiming and volunteers for their years of hard work in creating exceptional sculptural works. She also mourned the civilian heroes who fell victim to the massacres of the Communist regime, emphasizing the ongoing need to continue their unfinished mission.
Many of the guests were activists from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Chairman of the China Democratic Party’s San Francisco branch, Fang Zheng, led a group of over a dozen individuals who traveled south in multiple vehicles to attend the unveiling ceremony. In his speech, he praised Chen Weiming for once again delivering an outstanding work of art.
Fang Zheng called on the Chinese people to learn from the courage and determination of Ukrainians in defending freedom. He highlighted how many in China silently defend freedom and democracy, with some sacrificing their lives for it. He mentioned Li Wangyang, a leader of the Hunan Workers Movement during the 1989 Democracy Movement, who was imprisoned for a cumulative 22 years until his suspicious death on June 6, 2012. A statue of Li Wangyang is also placed in this park.
“We must instill the spirit and courage of defending freedom in everyone’s heart,” Fang Zheng said. “With such spirit and courage, China will surely welcome a day of freedom.”
In his speech, Zhu Yufu pointed out that during the absolute rule of the Chinese Communist regime, China needs warriors the most. He emphasized that humans are not confined animals and require more than just food and shelter; they need freedom of spirit, speech, association, and elections to live a dignified life.
Zhu Yufu stressed that Chinese and Ukrainians share a common goal: the pursuit of freedom. He believed that every Chinese person overseas shoulders a heavy responsibility, with the overseas democracy movement facing a long and arduous path. He encouraged everyone to stay strong and work towards securing freedom and rights for the Chinese people.
Exchange student Zhang Junjie, who rushed from UC Berkeley to attend the event, stated during an interview that seeking personal benefits and improving one’s life is not enough for Chinese people when they come abroad. He explained that while personal development is important, restricting life goals to individual gains is not a complete or worthwhile existence.
The unveiling ceremony was hosted by Los Angeles Deputy Chairman of the China Democratic Party Committee Zhou Yunlong and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of “In Opposition” magazine Zhang Zhijun. Among the speakers were over a dozen individuals, including Winnie Huang, Finance Director of the San Diego non-profit organization “Shield of Freedom,” American-Chinese volunteer who went to Ukraine Atticus Freeman, Executive Director of the June 4 Memorial Hall Jin Yan, Chairman of the Chinese Social Democratic Party Liu Yinquan, and Ren Wei, Head of the Los Angeles China Democratic Platform.