A group of exiled Chinese dissidents and democracy activists from the United States embarked on a cross-state convoy from California to Washington, D.C., calling for the U.S. government to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for spreading the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and urging sanctions against the CCP’s transnational repression and attention to the current human rights situation in China.
Accompanying the convoy was a striking sculpture titled “CCP Virus.” Chinese sculptor Chen Weiming informed that during the journey through 12 states including California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, they endured outdoor sleeping arrangements. Upon reaching Washington, D.C., they met with congressmen, senators, and officials from the State Department to express their demand for accountability in investigating the CCP virus. They were assured that their concerns would be addressed through the development of legislation.
The “CCP Virus” sculpture features 30 protrusions representing the spike proteins of the novel coronavirus intertwined with a half-skull figure. The original statue was destroyed by arson on July 23, 2021. Subsequently, in May 26, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of three CCP agents responsible for the vandalism. Chen Weiming and his team then recast the sculpture using over 30,000 strands of rebar to create the second iteration of the “CCP Virus.”
The convoy had three main objectives:
1. Holding the CCP accountable for spreading the novel coronavirus.
2. Urging the U.S. government to sanction the CCP for its transnational repression tactics and infiltration into the U.S.
Chen Weiming revealed that he himself has been a victim of the CCP’s transnational repression.
He recounted, “Six months ago, our two RVs were set on fire, all our camera equipment, hard drives, and computer gear were destroyed; on the anniversary of ‘June Fourth’, two dogs were poisoned to death one after the other; about two weeks before this trip, one of our dogs was likely killed, blood around its mouth, left lying in the middle of the street between our studio and sculpture park. On the same day of the incident, I went to the sculpture park to inspect, a signboard was knocked down, the memorial inscriptions were all sprayed with chemicals making the words blurry.”
3. Advocating for attention to human rights in China.
During the journey, Chen Weiming and the convoy received significant support.
He stated, “Some understood our message, some gave us a thumbs up from their vehicles. Some were very pleased, shaking our hands, embracing us, offering blessings and well wishes for a safe journey onward.”
Chen Weiming emphasized that the spread of the CCP virus worldwide is fundamentally a political disaster. Only when China becomes a democratic, free society with respect for human rights can a pandemic be effectively prevented. A government devoid of moral values, a dictatorship, will undermine the safety of its people.
“I hope the U.S. government will pay attention to democracy in China, leading China towards freedom and democracy.”
He concluded, “If the Communist Party does not collapse, the Chinese people have no hope.”