Human rights group “Humanitarian China” held its annual meeting at the Redwood City Library on December 7th, attracting more than fifty people to participate. During the meeting, they launched an action to send postcards to express condolences to ethnic conscience prisoners detained by the Chinese authorities, showing care and blessings to human rights defenders who are still imprisoned or facing continuous suppression, expressing respect for their sacrifices for freedom and dignity.
Co-organized by the Bay Area youth organization “Wipe Stars Office,” the venue was surrounded by photos of human rights defenders persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party – some still detained, some “disappeared,” and others released from prison but under long-term surveillance, suffering severe physical and mental torture.
Established in 2007 by Zhou Fengsuo, Zhao Jing, and Xu Gang, “Humanitarian China” has long been assisting families of persecuted individuals, providing small amounts of aid, and supporting civil society. With the escalation of repression in China, the organization assists over a hundred political prisoners and their families each year, operating entirely with volunteers and minimal administrative costs.
Zhou Fengsuo told Epoch Times that the activity originated from the Bay Area tradition after June 4, 1989, continuing for 37 years now, also implemented in multiple locations globally. Through writing postcards, the victims know they are not forgotten, providing them with real encouragement in times of darkness.
This year, Humanitarian China has helped over 200 victims, with total beneficiaries reaching one to two thousand individuals. Since September, the organization has also taken over part of the original Yahoo Human Rights Fund, demonstrating external trust and affirmation of its transparency, efficiency, and continuous operation.
He emphasized that with the intensification of Communist Party persecution, supporting conscience prisoners is something all conscientious Chinese people should do. Political prisoners are imprisoned simply for exercising their civil rights and speaking truths others dare not. Continued overseas support not only provides assistance in difficult times but also allows more people to understand the true situation in China and comprehend the democratic aspirations of human rights defenders for China’s future.
Director Fang Zheng of Humanitarian China stated that the tradition of writing postcards is a relay between two generations, from early pro-democracy pioneers to present-day Humanitarian China and “Wipe Stars.” Recalling that after his injury, he received condolence cards and $200 in aid from the Bay Area in 1991 and 1992, which left a deep impression on him and he will always remember. Today, there are still many political prisoners in China, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, etc., who are being persecuted, and this work needs to be further expanded, hoping more people can join.
Founder of Wipe Stars, Duan Jingji, told reporters that she used to think political prisoners were distant from herself until her close friend Zhang Yadie was detained for a long time, making her deeply feel the harsh reality of persecution. She said, “We cannot stand by and must speak up for them, transmitting the warmth of the free world to them.”
She expressed that she thought her small account and website would not attract the authorities’ attention until Zhang Yadie was arrested, realizing she had been marked as a key target by the Chinese Communist Party. She realized that insignificant advocates are subjects that authoritarian regimes must suppress. She concluded that Han Chinese must learn to empathize with others’ suffering and help them in order to save themselves.
Phong Trong Duc, Chairman of the China Democratic Education Foundation, pointed out that every overseas voice of support can bring comfort to conscience prisoners in captivity and exert international pressure on prisons to prevent them from being subjected to “secret disposal” in the darkness. He is gratified to see more and more young generations participating.
At the event, the wife of lawyer Gao Zhisheng, Genghe, attended in person and thanked everyone for not forgetting the hardship Gao Zhisheng has endured over the years. She said that if Gao Zhisheng could see the scene today, he would definitely walk alongside everyone. Genghe emphasized that every postcard sent to the prisons can pierce the darkness like starlight and bring support and hope to the victims.
Hong Kong activist Siu Ling introduced the latest situation of Hong Kong political prisoners through online means. She stated that the political environment in Hong Kong is rapidly aligning with that of the mainland. From mass arrests of political prisoners to restrictions on leaving the country, confiscation of passports, and regular summons by national security, many democrats in Hong Kong, even after release, are essentially under soft detention. She cited an example of a student being arrested for advocating an investigation into the Amoy Gardens fire, showing that the regression of freedom of speech in Hong Kong is faster than that in the mainland.
She mentioned that the Hong Kong government is intensifying cross-border crackdowns on overseas Hong Kongers. She herself is wanted for “colluding with foreign forces,” with a reward of a million, and her family and friends are under investigation. She called on the international community to address cross-border crackdowns, advocate for necessary legislation, and emphasized that advocates in Hong Kong, China, Tibetans, Uighurs, etc., should jointly speak out so the world can see through the true face of the Chinese Communist Party. She hoped that various sectors would continue to support Hong Kong political prisoners.
Anna, the wife of Zion Church Pastor Jin Mingri, who was heavily arrested this year, introduced the church’s situation online. The Zion Church, established in 2007 and rapidly growing, saw the pastor and over twenty colleagues collectively detained by the Chinese Communist Party this year. She said that the sent cards may not all reach the recipients, but the action itself has profound significance. She believed that everything must be done before God, and regardless of the outcome, one should remain steadfast and continue doing good in times of doubt and difficulty.
Chen Guiqiu, the former wife of 709 lawyer Xie Yang, tearfully shared her ten years of suffering. She mentioned that since the mass arrests in 2015, the lawyer and his family have lived in fear; their children were refused by schools, forced to move homes, and members were under surveillance. Xie Yang suffered torture multiple times, cases were held in “secret trial” where lawyers could not view the files, and family members were completely excluded, highlighting the darkness of the Communist Party’s rule of law.
She added that the cards sent from overseas carry great significance for the detainees, as in the cramped darkness of prison cells, a piece of paper can be read thousands of times. She thanked Humanitarian China for their support over the years and emphasized that the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party towards the people will not stop, urging the world to continue bravely saying “no” to dark forces.
Chun Xiao, the wife of human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, revealed that after Lu Siwei was released in August, due to economic and political pressures, he could not rent a house and could only stay at friends’ homes. He continued to be followed, labeled as a “yellow person,” and subjected to special security checks at the airport and high-speed rail.
In terms of health, Lu Siwei’s thyroid cancer may recur, nodules in the lungs are suspected of early cancer, and prolonged detention has caused severe constipation. Appeals have been fruitless to date, and he could not find work; although he has retrieved his passport, he is still prohibited from leaving the country. She urged everyone to continue to pay attention to these human rights lawyers who are struggling in difficult circumstances, allowing them to have at least a normal life and freedom of movement.
At the annual meeting, Zhou Fengsuo provided an annual briefing outlining Humanitarian China’s achievements over the past year. At the end of the meeting, several attendees took the stage one after another to speak and share their experiences of the activities. Volunteer Zheng Yun told reporters that Humanitarian China sends hundreds of greeting cards to conscience prisoners each year, with many released prisoners confirming that these cards gave them the strength to rekindle hope during the darkest times in prison.
Chinese Democratic Party member Chen Senfeng, who participated in the event, mentioned that the activity coincided with Jimmy Lai’s birthday, and he hoped to convey blessings to the Hong Kong entrepreneur who has paid a high price for freedom. He expressed that oppression in China was felt everywhere, and the fire in Hong Kong was caused by the corruption of the Communist Party’s governance. ◇