On June 21st, a photo exhibition exposing the century-long atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was held at Marina Park in San Leandro. The exhibition, featuring images with explanations in both Chinese and English, revealed the political persecutions, historical disasters, and human rights abuses caused by the CCP since its establishment, urging people from all walks of life to remember history and hold the CCP accountable for its crimes. The exhibition attracted many visitors from the Bay Area who stopped to view the displays.
Organized by the San Francisco branch of the China Democracy Party and the China Democracy Education Foundation, the event was deemed significant by the party’s chairman, Fang Zheng. He emphasized that the exhibition serves as a reminder for people not to forget the CCP’s century-long crimes against humanity, as well as a warning signal from the free world to the international community. Fang stressed that the evil of the CCP not only harms China but is also spreading globally, thus it is the responsibility of Chinese Americans to defend freedom values and educate their American friends and global citizens about the true nature of the CCP, cautioning and resisting its infiltration and encroachment on free societies.
Fang noted that this year marks the CCP’s claimed 105th anniversary of establishment and nearly 77 years in power. He highlighted the continuous sufferings endured by the Chinese people since the CCP’s inception. By organizing the photo exhibition at Marina Park, he aimed to help Chinese people remember history through bilingual explanations and raise awareness among more Americans and international individuals about the true nature of the CCP. Understanding history, Fang added, assists the youth in discerning the present and shaping the future, as well as in preventing further calamities caused by the CCP on the world stage.
During the event, several newly arrived immigrants from mainland China also shared their thoughts. Kandong, a young person born after 1990, mentioned that many Chinese individuals in the U.S. still refrain from openly opposing the CCP due to long-standing fear. He emphasized that true freedom and dignity come from boldly speaking out, expressing genuine thoughts, and overcoming fear.
Hu Ziping, a member of the China Democracy Party who has been in the U.S. for four years, tearfully recalled her family’s sufferings during political movements under the CCP reign. She emotionally recounted the ordeal her father, a former Nationalist Army officer, faced during the Cultural Revolution, and her own experiences of humiliation and persecution in school due to her family background. Ziping also mentioned her forced abortion under China’s one-child policy, along with other coercive measures she witnessed. She expressed that these memories are too painful to revisit and vowed never to return to China due to the haunting past.
Zhou Yunlong, the head of the organizing department of the San Francisco branch of the China Democracy Party, mentioned the positive response received during past events, including a truth picture exhibition held around the time of the June 4th incident, showcasing in Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, and at Stanford University, attracting attention and support from many Americans. Given the favorable feedback, the party decided to expand the touring exhibition into a long-term awareness campaign titled “Entering American Communities.”
Starting in June with a focus on the truth of June 4th, the campaign will shift its spotlight in July to the CCP’s century-long atrocities, continuously updating its content. The future plan includes selecting various locations weekly, such as parks, commercial squares, city halls, and councils, to educate American citizens on the sufferings of the Chinese people and the reasons behind overseas Chinese steadfast anti-CCP stance, seeking more understanding, sympathy, and support.
The photo exhibition not only captivated the attention of passersby but also elicited emotional responses. Nelly, a Mexican resident who has lived in the U.S. for 16 years, expressed deep sadness upon viewing the exhibited content, particularly for the suffering families, children, and society affected.
Her daughter Sophia remarked that children shouldn’t endure such hardships and ought to have a normal and hopeful future.
Resident Victor Flores urged the international community and world leaders to address the CCP issue, help the Chinese people attain freedom, and enable them to choose their government and determine their lives. Another resident, Mario Elizalde, stressed the significance of religious freedom, advocating for everyone’s right to religious belief. He empathized with the lack of basic freedoms experienced by the Chinese people.