On the eve of the 36th anniversary of June 4th, a sculpture park featuring freedom sculptures in Los Angeles saw a real bulldozer starting to “shovel” and “crush” the images of totalitarian dictators, prompting contemplation of the massive slaughter caused by the communist rule.
On June 1st, hundreds of guests from across the United States, Taiwan, and Australia gathered in the small town of Yermo, Southern California, for the unveiling of the new sculpture “Trash of History” at the Freedom Sculpture Park. Despite the scorching desert heat reaching over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and swirling dust storms, the enthusiasm of the attendees remained high, echoing slogans like “Overturn the Chinese Communist Party” and “Restore our freedom.”
The unveiling ceremony began with a choral rendition of the song “Wounds of History.” Led by young singer Kang Yu, a dozen singers performed this song recorded by Taiwanese musicians during the 1989 democracy movement, evoking memories of the tragic massacre.
After a moment of silence for the victims of June 4th, prominent figures such as Wang Dan, a leader of the 1989 student movement, Chen Chuangchuang, Executive Secretary of the China Democracy Party, Professor Li Youtan from National Chengchi University’s Institute of National Development, and Taiwanese internet sensation Ba Jiong, together unveiled the new sculpture that was covered by the black flag of the Chinese Communist Party.
The sculpture “Trash of History” vividly depicts a scene of a bulldozer crushing the images of totalitarian rulers. The main element is a real yellow construction bulldozer. The images on the shovel include founding figures of communist ideology like Marx, as well as totalitarian dictators Lenin, Stalin, Mao, who seized power using communist movements and caused the deaths of tens of millions of people; below the bulldozer, there are images of perpetrators of the June 4th massacre, including Deng Xiaoping.
Why unveil such a sculpture during the June 4th commemoration? The creator, Chen Weiming, mentioned in his speech that history should not be forgotten. Commemorating June 4th is not just about remembering the lives lost, but more importantly, it’s about overthrowing tyranny and nailing the perpetrators of massacres to the pillars of historical shame.
In the 36 years since the June 4th massacre, the young people who participated in the student movement have aged, but they continue to be silenced. In China, the authorities have been actively concealing the truth about the massacre, making the topic of June 4th as untouchable as a live wire.
Chen Weiming pointed out that texts like Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” are spiritual poisons that have brought immense harm to the world. “I am burying it in the ‘Trash of History’ sculpture,” he said.
During his speech, Li Youtan expressed that participating in this commemorative event made him feel the gathering of the largest global anti-communist force, witnessing the increasing scale of the Freedom Sculpture Park.
Li Youtan highlighted that after occupying Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party is now focusing all its efforts on Taiwan, which is its first target for overseas expansion. He noted that Taiwan ranks just after Australia in the latest democracy rankings globally, but the authoritarian CCP is constantly seeking to destroy Taiwan, a beacon of democracy and freedom.
Taiwanese internet sensation Ba Jiong, who was present at the event, shared his emotional experience of seeing more vivid and heartbreaking remnants and letters at the June 4th Museum these past few days. He stated, “My heart was deeply moved, especially seeing the photos of blood flowing like a river, which made me feel sorrowful.” Ba Jiong emphasized that Taiwan’s independence is not an immediate concern; only after the CCP collapses and under the premise of democracy and freedom, can mutual respect lead to authentic democratic freedom.
Chinese immigrants, both old and new, who attended the event, viewed Marxist-Leninist ideology as intellectual trash.
Yuan Zegang, who volunteers at the sculpture park, emphasized in his speech that history teaches us that the CCP’s dictatorship is unsustainable, devoid of fairness and justice, lacking in humanity, and contradicting human values.
Zhou Lanying, a member of the China Democracy Party and a former chief architect in China, stated that the CCP suppresses freedom and controls people’s thoughts with Marxist-Leninist theories, continuously self-modifying and deifying itself. She highlighted that the CCP’s core is not to serve the people, but to consolidate power. “In China, Marxism-Leninism is like a system patch that has been discontinued worldwide, but the CCP is still forcibly installing it, trying to lock down your computer,” she pointed out.
Zhao Changqing, who experienced the events of June 4th, expressed his gratitude for the presence of so many young people at the commemorative event. He believes that the day when the CCP falls is not far away.
Zhao, who was a freshman at Shaanxi Normal University during the 1989 protests, spent four months in Qincheng Prison after June 4th. He was subsequently arrested five times and sentenced three times for participating in democratic elections and rights defense activities, totaling eleven years in prison.
He stated that the CCP is the greatest disaster and trash in human history. He stressed, “Since its inception, it has been a threat to human civilization; especially since the establishment of the regime in 1949, its harm to the Chinese people and the evil influence on human civilization must be accounted for.”
Ding Qiang, a writer residing in New Zealand and a participant in the 1989 democracy movement, recounted his escape from the massacre on June 3rd since he was not present at Tiananmen Square that night. He was labeled a “troublemaker” after graduation from People’s University, rendering him unable to pass the political review, with no job acceptance in any work unit.
“Communism wants to confiscate your wealth, then it turns into a theory of robbery. Moreover, it forces people to believe in their ideology from a young age and participate in their atrocities,” Ding Qiang, well-versed in religious concepts, remarked. “Regardless of the orthodox faith, it teaches people to do good, whereas the CCP instructs people to commit evil. A simple comparison reveals that communism is a cult.”
The event was co-hosted by Zhou Yunlong, a member of the China Democracy Party, and Zheng Yun, a director of the China Democratic Fund. Other guests in attendance included Jin Xiuhong, the founder of the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, Fang Zheng, a director of the China Democratic Education Foundation and a survivor of the June 4th incident, Ann Lau, the chair of the Los Angeles-based Visual Artists Guild, Yao Cheng, a former naval officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and a military expert, as well as leaders of human rights organizations for Cubans in the United States and many others.