As the World Cup football fever swept through New York in 2026, the Chinese Democratic Party held a commemorative event with the theme “Witnessing History, Safeguarding Memory, Defending Truth” in Father Duffy Square in Midtown Manhattan to commemorate the 141st anniversary of the arrival of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Dozens of democratic activists and supporters gathered in the square, amidst neon lights and cheers of football fans, holding up banners, reading statements, reflecting on the historical significance of the Statue of Liberty, and calling for the cherishing of values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law.
The organizers stated that they chose to hold the event on June 17th because on June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France. Since then, this statue has not only become an important landmark in New York and the United States, but also a spiritual symbol in the hearts of people around the world who seek freedom, democracy, and dignity. The organizers emphasized that freedom is not to be taken for granted but requires generations to safeguard and fight for.
The full name of the Statue of Liberty is “Liberty Enlightening the World”, a gift from the French people to America. It was originally intended to commemorate the centennial of American independence and the friendship between the two countries in pursuit of republican and freedom ideals. The statue was designed by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, and the internal steel structure was planned by Gustave Eiffel, the engineer later known for designing the Eiffel Tower. The Statue of Liberty wears a crown with seven rays symbolizing the seven continents and seven seas; she holds up a torch in her right hand representing the light of freedom, while in her left hand she holds a tablet inscribed with “July 4, 1776”, symbolizing the date of the US Declaration of Independence.
In 1885, the statue was dismantled into hundreds of pieces, packed, and shipped to New York. Due to insufficient funding for the pedestal construction, the project stalled, but after media magnate Joseph Pulitzer initiated a fundraising campaign, over a hundred thousand ordinary citizens donated, ultimately leading to the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty on October 28, 1886. Since the end of the 19th century, the Statue of Liberty has stood at the entrance to the New York Harbor, witnessing millions of immigrants entering America through Ellis Island. For many immigrants, seeing the Statue of Liberty holding the torch from afar symbolizes bidding farewell to war, poverty, religious persecution, or political oppression, and marks the beginning of a new life.
The event commenced at 8:30 PM on the evening. Due to the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches, Times Square was filled with football fans wearing jerseys, waving flags, cheering for their home or supported teams. The cheers of the fans, the electronic billboards in the square, and the slogans of the event intertwined, creating a lively atmosphere. Participants held banners and chanted slogans like “The flame of liberty never goes out”, “Oppose dictatorship, support democracy”, “The torch of liberty illuminates the future”, attracting some tourists to stop and watch or take photos.
During the event, Wang Juntao, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Democratic Party, issued a written statement titled “Saluting Freedom – Commemorating the 141st Anniversary of the Arrival of the Statue of Liberty in New York”, which was read out by his assistant Hou Gaiying. The statement pointed out that the Statue of Liberty not only serves as an American landmark but also represents humanity’s relentless pursuit of dignity, rights, and hope.
In the statement, Wang Juntao expressed that the historical support of the French people for the American Revolutionary War proves that mutual support among those pursuing freedom is an important force in overcoming tyranny and despotism. He emphasized that the Chinese people still lack full freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and genuine voting rights, thus they understand the value of freedom more and hope that the international community will continue to support the Chinese people’s efforts to pursue democracy and freedom.
The statement also addressed the criticism from outsiders towards overseas democratic individuals. Wang Juntao stated that many exiled Chinese democratic individuals came to the United States not to evade responsibility but to break free from the shackles of authoritarian systems and continue to strive for the future freedom and democracy of China.
In an interview, Hou Gaiying mentioned that this event also resonates historically with the recent June Fourth commemoration activities. She pointed out that during the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement, students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts erected a “Goddess of Democracy” statue at Tiananmen Square, inspired by the design of the Statue of Liberty. The organizers hope that through this event, they can connect the spirits represented by the Statue of Liberty and the Goddess of Democracy.
“The Statue of Liberty is more than just a symbol of America; she is a spiritual totem recognized by freedom seekers worldwide,” Hou Gaiying said. She also admitted that she has been in the United States for nearly two years, being busy with work, family, and participating in public activities, she has not yet had the opportunity to personally visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, “America has given me a lot of goodwill and help, and once life stabilizes more, I will definitely go see the Statue of Liberty in person.”
Many participants at the scene also shared their interpretations of the Statue of Liberty. Liu Yao from Sichuan, who arrived in the United States with her husband Fang Yanyong in 2023, said that the first thing they did after arriving in the US was to visit the Statue of Liberty.
“When I saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time, I felt like I was finally breathing the air of freedom,” Liu Yao said. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes freedom, equality, and democracy in her heart, like a beacon lighting the way for people in their pursuit of freedom. She mentioned that the experience of lockdown during the pandemic made her more determined to leave China, and her biggest feeling after coming to America is that she can finally freely express her thoughts.
Fang Yanyong believes that freedom is not granted by rulers but a right fought for by the people. “The Statue of Liberty represents the common pursuit of all mankind for freedom, human rights, and dignity,” he said.
Shiya Huai from Shaanxi expressed that her biggest feeling after coming to America is freedom. She noted that people can openly express their opinions, discuss public issues without fear of punishment here. She believes that freedom not only means being free from fear but also includes basic human rights protections and spiritual richness, saying, “A society cannot only focus on material living, it also needs faith and values.”
Wang Jiandun from Fujian said that after getting in touch with modern and recent Chinese history and external information, he gradually developed independent thinking and left China in early 2023. “Upon coming to America, my biggest feeling is no longer living in fear. You can freely think, freely express, and freely access information,” he said.
Wang Jiandun believes that freedom should not be taken for granted, “Freedom is a belief. We should understand it, cherish it, and be willing to take responsibility to safeguard it.”
At the end of the event, participants once again chanted “The flame of freedom never goes out” and paid tribute to all those who strive for freedom, human rights, and democracy with applause. Wang Juntao concluded the statement by saying, “The torch of the Statue of Liberty has been illuminating the world for 141 years. We believe that one day, this light of freedom will also shine on China.”