On the afternoon of December 1, 2024, in front of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, a group of justice advocates from the Bay Area gathered to demand the immediate release of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. They held banners with the slogan “Freedom is innocent, release Zhang Zhan” to strongly urge the Chinese Communist Party to release Ms. Zhang.
Zhang Zhan was arrested for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan and was unjustly sentenced to 4 years on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” in late 2020. She was released in May this year. Later, due to her efforts to rescue detained human rights activist Zhang Pancheng in Gansu, she was brought back to Shanghai by the police in August and criminally detained on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” in her hometown of Xianyang, Shaanxi. With approval from the Pudong New Area Procuratorate, on November 18, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau’s Pudong branch arrested Zhang Zhan on the same charge. Currently, she is being held in custody at the Pudong New Area Detention Center.
At the beginning of the event, the organizer and head of the San Francisco branch of the Chinese Democratic Party, Huang Xiaomin, first pointed out the “fake, evil, and struggle” nature of the Chinese Communist Party. She emphasized how the CCP brainwashes the people through lies and isolation, fostering hatred towards other countries, individuals, and even family members, creating a climate of distrust and conflict. Huang highlighted the plight of rights activists oppressed by the CCP and called for the release of Zhang Zhan, stating that under the rule of the CCP, the longing for a free and democratic China is currently experiencing its darkest hour.
During the event, Huang Xiaomin expressed gratitude to the pioneers who have made significant sacrifices for Chinese democracy and freedom, mentioning names such as Lin Zhao, Zhang Zhixin, Wei Jingsheng, Fang Lizhi, Bao Tong, Li Wangyang, Chen Ziming, Wang Bingzhang, Liu Xiaobo, Cao Shunli, Peng Ming, Zhang Zhan, Jimmy Lai, Zou Xingtong, Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, Guo Feixiong, Yu Wensheng, Gao Zhisheng, Chen Guangcheng, Wang Yi, Sun Wenguang, Peng Lifan, and the young advocates of the Blank Generation. Each name symbolizes courage, persistence, and sacrifice.
Zhang Zhan, previously recognized by Reporters Without Borders as the “most dangerous journalist in captivity,” continues to face threats to her safety with her recent arrest. Huang Xiaomin demanded the immediate release of Zhang Zhan, highlighting that those who carry the torch for others should not be left to freeze in the cold. She believed that Zhang Zhan embodies the belief of “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” with her fearlessness not just a testament to her personal faith, but also an expression of hope for a democratic China.
After the speech, Huang Xiaomin led the attendees in chanting slogans: “Zhang Zhan is innocent, release Zhang Zhan! CCP’s prison state, release prisoners of conscience! Justice prevails, evil regimes will fall! Hold human rights violators accountable, try Xi Jinping!”
Mr. Yuan Xuebao, another attendee, pointed out that the current situation in mainland China is a self-rescue operation, emphasizing that “freedom is never free” and calling on people to bravely persist. He firmly stated that his criticism of the Chinese Communist regime stems from its continuous atrocities. Witnessing people struggling in “lies and disasters,” he believed that if speaking out for survival is deemed a crime, then he would not stop speaking out.
Yuan mentioned Zhang Zhan’s words in court: “Do you not feel wrong pulling me into the dock, won’t your conscience tell you this is a mistake?” She plainly stated that this was a court judging persecutors, not her. Yuan praised Zhang Zhan for being a strong advocate for her fellow oppressed citizens despite facing harsh persecution, showcasing immense courage.
Yuan stressed that the United States upholds Christian culture and universal values, contrasting this with the culture under the CCP which is filled with lies. He expressed that immigrants to the US should not only seek material comforts but also embrace spiritual freedom. He proclaimed that if one is timid to speak out even in the US, they are worse than a woman, stating, “I think coming to America would have been in vain.”
He pointed out that since seizing power in 1949, the CCP has instilled a culture of hatred, misleading people to resent Japan, the US, and so-called “hegemonism.” Clarifying that his participation in the event was voluntary and unpaid, he hoped for the release of innocent heroes like Zhang Zhan and emphasized that even if “one Zhang Zhan falls, it will not stop millions of Zhang Zhans from rising up.”
A gentleman known as “Hamburger” paid tribute to Zhang Zhan in his speech. He praised her as not only a defender of freedom but also a fighter for justice. He highlighted her advocacy for oppressed compatriots, defense of the rule of law and human rights, and her unwavering courage in the face of brutal persecution.
“Hamburger” emphasized that as a Chinese anti-communist living in the US, although he struggles hard for survival, he believes in seeking universal values—freedom, democracy, and equality. He stressed that these values are the foundation of human dignity and the future choice for the next generation. Emphasizing the hardships and dangers of the immigrant journey, especially for those wary of authoritarian regimes, he saw it as a path to self-rescue and changing fate. He pointed out that if they do not endure and strive, the cycle of suffering will continue for their descendants.
He shared with our reporter his fundamental reason for coming to the US, stating, “I cannot live in a world where everyone is selfish and self-centered. Although I can survive as a man, I have a wife and children, and they should not live in such a place.”
“I care about justice, not for personal gain but for public justice. In a society where no one helps the elderly, no one speaks up against theft, and no one aids the weak, it is extremely dangerous.”
“I feel that an authoritarian government requires each of us to be selfish and self-centered in order to maintain its stability. Stability is its interest. The so-called ‘maintaining stability’ is actually about preserving political stability, sustaining the CCP’s power, and ensuring the thousand-year permanence of the red regime, rather than truly upholding social stability.”
At the gathering, he called for the rejection of the selfishness instilled by the CCP’s authoritarianism to change international perceptions of the Chinese community. He emphasized the need to showcase wisdom and contributions, defend the universal values of the US, and turn past shadows into future motivation.
Mr. Guan, who has been in the Bay Area for less than a year, has met many Chinese people with similar experiences and identified two major issues through his interactions with them.
Firstly, he observed that the anti-communist Chinese community is too fragmented, lacking unity among various organizations, parties, and even different age groups. Each faction maintains its own viewpoints, leading to a lack of inclusivity and collaboration. He urged that regardless of coming from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or elsewhere, unity is crucial because the primary goal is to overthrow CCP totalitarianism, followed by discussions on future development.
Secondly, many mainland Chinese immigrants in the US are still deeply influenced by the toxic mindset of CCP party culture. Despite being in a free country, their thought processes remain confined within the CCP’s brainwashing framework, lacking a true understanding of universal values. He explained that individuals raised in free societies from a young age have vastly different ways of thinking compared to those influenced by the CCP. He called for deep reflection, urging people to rid themselves of harmful CCP cultural thinking and engage more with individuals in free societies to truly grasp the meaning of freedom and democracy. He emphasized the necessity of “changing ourselves first” so that the path ahead can be extensive and broad.