On June 4th, 2024, marking the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement, the Chinese Communist Party continues to prohibit any private commemorations for the victims of the June Fourth crackdown, including sharing memorial images online. The anniversary of June Fourth has become a “sensitive day” for the CCP, with authorities at mainland Chinese universities instructing teachers to monitor students’ ideological activities and halt all related events. However, commemorative events for June Fourth are being held in various locations overseas.
Several screenshots of WeChat messages circulating on social media platforms overseas show that Chinese university authorities have issued notices prohibiting gatherings and activities on June 4th. All class activities are required to be reported one week in advance, with strict bans on religious activities, establishing religious groups, and preaching.
In one notice, the school authorities instruct class teachers and professors to urge students not to share any network information, including notifications, on platforms such as the school’s official accounts, Douyin, and video apps, with further instructions to be provided for the release time. Another college prohibits any form of collective activity on June 4th and forbids disclosing the content of the notice.
Radio Free Asia reported that a participant in the 1989 Democracy Movement, who chose to remain anonymous for personal safety, stated: “This notice is definitely real, and it happens every year. The authorities particularly aim to control universities, requiring schools to control students and strictly manage them before and after June 4th. This year being the 35th anniversary, the control is even stricter, making all these restrictions more prominent.”
Businessman Zhang Shengqi mentioned that such notices are issued annually not only in schools but also in enterprises, government departments, and other institutions related to the Communist Party system. On sensitive commemorative days like this, as well as days related to severe human rights crises, authorities are especially cautious, demanding people to remain silent.
An anonymous teacher in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, expressed that as the anniversary of June Fourth approaches, the restrictions are becoming more severe, making every day a sensitive one.
Internationally, there is a stark contrast between the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of June Fourth and the events within China itself.
On June 3rd, in Auckland, New Zealand, a group of Chinese expatriates organized a “Never Forget June Fourth” photo exhibition at Aotea Square. Over 30 people marched on Queen Street at noon, followed by more than 60 attendees participating in a seminar commemorating the 35th anniversary of June Fourth in the afternoon. The host once again presented images of the violent crackdown on June Fourth, expressing a pursuit for freedom and democracy. Speakers included persecuted Uyghurs, church pastors, human rights lawyers, and members of the Chinese house church who have fled to New Zealand.
Taiwan will also host a commemorative event on the 35th anniversary of June Fourth.
Since last week, gatherings commemorating June Fourth have taken place in several cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. People are urging everyone not to forget the events of June Fourth.
On May 29th, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in the U.S. announced that they will hold a bipartisan joint press conference in the Capitol building on the morning of June 4th to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
On June 2nd, Chinese democratic party members and supporters in the U.S. held a parade in New York’s Chinatown. In Toronto, Canada, the June Fourth anniversary event received support from government officials, with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Members of Parliament showing their support at the event.
Several cities across Australia held activities commemorating the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989 and the Hong Kong “Anti-Extradition” Movement.
In Perth, Australia, a memorial event for June Fourth was held on the evening of June 1st at Forrest Place. The event featured model tanks and exhibits of the June Fourth democracy movement, with speeches from individuals from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Tibet.
The event also featured performances of various democracy movement songs, including “The Flower of Freedom” and “Glory to Hong Kong.”
On June 4th, 1989, Beijing witnessed one of the most severe political events since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, known as the “June Fourth Tiananmen Incident” or the “June Fourth Massacre.” At that time, university students from across the country and citizens of Beijing peacefully demonstrated in Tiananmen Square, calling for democratic reforms and opposing corruption. However, the CCP authorities responded with a violent crackdown, sending the military and tanks into the streets of Beijing to brutally suppress the unarmed demonstrators, resulting in a significant loss of life. To this day, the exact casualties of the June Fourth massacre remain a sensitive topic in China.