On May 7th, 8964 pro-democracy leader Zhou Fengsuo visited the San Francisco Bay Area and granted media interviews, reflecting on his personal experience during the tragic “June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre” in 1989, expressing his desire to “preserve the truth and seek justice.”
Reflecting on the Tiananmen Square Massacre
Mr. Zhou stated, “I founded Humanitarian China, mainly to advocate for the rescue of political prisoners in China. Today, in this free country of America, discussing what happened in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, with the tanks ‘bloodily cleansing Tiananmen,’ is so tragic that many find it hard to believe or understand! People always ask me, tanks are military weapons, how did they end up in Tiananmen? Is it possible for tanks to run over human bodies? That’s why I must mention Fang Zheng, everyone knows him in San Francisco, as he lost his legs during the Tiananmen Square massacre.”
Recalling his experience 35 years ago at Tiananmen Square, Mr. Zhou described being one of the first students to arrive at the square, staying for 50 days during the events leading up to the armed crackdown. He helped many students evacuate and was among the last to leave Tiananmen Square.
He reminisced that initially, people gathered at Tiananmen Square to mourn the passing of former CCP General Secretary Hu Yaobang. Later, those who remained were mostly university students and young people discussing China’s future and the topics of Chinese human rights, freedom, and democracy, finding rare common political views among themselves.
“People’s Commemoration of ’64′”
Mr. Zhou remarked, “I know that as June 4 approaches each year, people commemorate in various ways. Even in the heavily censored mainland of China, individuals either gather in small groups to mourn or privately light candles. On the strictly monitored WeChat platform, where speech is heavily restricted, people don’t say anything but post candle emojis, conveying a shared silent message.”
He held up a poster from the 1998 “Hong Kong Victoria Park” vigil, depicting the true scene of people mourning the “heroes of 64” in Hong Kong. Zhou Fengsuo said, “The flickering candlelight forms an ocean, remembering every life lost in the fight for ‘freedom and democracy’ in China!”
Hong Kong Lost, Taiwan Must Uphold Freedom and Democracy
In an interview with The Epoch Times, Mr. Zhou Fengsuo expressed, “Today’s Hong Kong is under CCP rule, no longer the Hong Kong of the past, devoid of the ‘June 4 Victoria Park.’ Contrasting the political environments of Hong Kong and Taiwan: ten years ago, Taiwan had the ‘Sunflower Movement’ where people could gather to express political demands. This occurred in Taiwan, demonstrating Taiwan to be a country of freedom and democracy. In contrast, the ‘Umbrella Movement’ in Hong Kong was suppressed by the CCP, leading to the imposition of the National Security Law and Article 23 of the Basic Law, extending CCP’s authority not only in Hong Kong but beyond. If Taiwan does not uphold freedom and democracy, it could become the next Hong Kong!”
Preserving the Truth, Seeking Justice
When asked about his biggest experiences in the pursuit of more evidence regarding the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’ over the past 35 years, Zhou Fengsuo remarked, “In the quest for more evidence of the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’ over the last 35 years, I have encountered many things. It is well known that the CCP has always adopted a strategy of cover-up and denial regarding the truth of ’64.’ Therefore, seeking evidence and pursuing justice inevitably entails facing obstacles and hurdles. The most striking feeling was watching a 20-minute video at Fang Zheng’s place, showing tanks rolling over students’ bodies on Tiananmen Square. Back then, I was at Tiananmen Square and knew what happened there, but I didn’t have such concrete evidence. Having such precious data today is crucial for me to preserve the truth, which stands as undeniable evidence!”
He continued, “Over the past 35 years, in the process of uncovering the truth of ’64,’ I have come to understand more about the lives lost, who they were?! I believe there are many more sacrificed individuals whose names remain unknown to me!” ◇