In the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the June 4th event, a large parade in New Zealand caught the attention of many. Chang Weijian, an activist in New Zealand, stated that this was an idea conceived by the younger generation, combining the commemoration of June 4th with resistance to the infiltration of the Chinese Communist Party, injecting new elements into the event.
This year marks the 36th anniversary of the Beijing massacre. On June 2nd, the New Zealand-Values Alliance organized a commemorative event in Auckland, starting from 11:00 am and lasting until 7:00 pm. The commemorative activities consisted of four parts: a grand parade, an exhibition of images depicting the atrocities of the June 4th incident, a seminar, and a candlelight vigil. It attracted significant attention and participation from Chinese and other ethnic minority groups.
What set this event apart was the spectacle of over a dozen cars draped with banners commemorating the 36th anniversary of the June 4th incident and opposing infiltration. The convoy, adorned with flags and images of June 4th, displayed slogans in both Chinese and English such as “End the CCP’s tyranny,” “Long live democracy,” “Hold Xi Jinping accountable,” “Resist infiltration,” “Remember the victims of June 4th,” “Stop human rights abuses,” and “Down with the tyranny.” The convoy set off from the GreenLane McDonald’s parking lot in the central city, proceeded along Great South Rd, and reached the front of the Chinese Consulate in Auckland to protest.
In front of the consulate, over twenty individuals shouted slogans in Chinese and English, including “Never forget June 4th,” “Resist CCP infiltration,” “CCP step down,” “Hold Xi Jinping accountable,” “Freedom belongs to the people,” “Stop human rights abuses,” “The CCP must perish,” “The CCP is not equal to China,” and “Patriotism does not require loving the party,” protesting against the CCP’s tyranny. The convoy then passed through Auckland’s Chinatown in the East, Dominion Rd in the city center – areas where the Chinese community congregates, before returning to downtown Auckland.
Chen Weijian, an activist for New Zealand’s pro-democracy movement, mentioned during an interview with the Epoch Times that the caravan’s impact was significant. They conducted touring displays at markets and major streets frequented by the Chinese community, enabling more people to see “June 4th” and making them aware that there is a group of people who have not forgotten June 4th and are still fighting for democracy in China.
“This year’s June 4th activities in New Zealand have emphasized the content of resisting the CCP’s infiltration, linking the commemoration of June 4th with the infiltration of New Zealand by the CCP. Recently, our Value Alliance of New Zealand submitted a petition to the parliament, urging the government to investigate the CCP’s interference in New Zealand and the Pacific region. We also held a press conference in front of the parliament building,” he said.
“The candlelight vigil for June 4th attracted the attention of Radio New Zealand, which took the initiative to conduct interviews. This event also collaborated with some Ukrainian community organizations, who were very moved and expressed that we Chinese have done very well in resisting tyranny for so many years, which is worth learning from. The Ukrainians are protesting Russia’s invasion of their homeland every week,” he said.
Rights activist Xing Jian told the Epoch Times that despite the CCP’s efforts to block information and erase the truth, the history of the Beijing massacre – the 1989 June 4th crackdown – is still remembered by generation after generation. In this era of censored information, as a post-90s generation, having the opportunity to understand this bloody history is both fortunate and a weighty responsibility.
Xing believes that the June 4th crackdown is not just a slaughter that occurred in 1989, but a continued suppression of freedom and will. The shadow of the June 4th crackdown has not disappeared with time; the CCP not only enforces high-pressure politics within China but also extends state terrorism overseas, censoring memories, suppressing dissidents, and engaging in infiltration.
“We commemorate June 4th not to perpetuate hatred but to awaken memory; we recount this history not to confront a regime but to prevent the repetition of past mistakes. Young people must bravely face history, learn from the experiences of their predecessors, inherit and promote the spirit of June 4th. Only then can democracy have hope, and the people can have rights and dignity,” he said.
Chen Weijian noted that in recent years, especially during the pandemic lockdowns imposed by the CCP, many young people have gone overseas and actively participated in activities, bringing new ideas and sparking a resurgence in overseas pro-democracy movements. Since its establishment, the CCP has never ceased suppressing democracy movements or dissenters, including the White Paper movement initiated by young people. Therefore, commemorating June 4th is also a tribute to all activities that resist the CCP’s tyranny.
He particularly mentioned a young participant who attended the event for the first time this year. The young person had tattooed images of June 4th and slogans opposing the CCP’s tyranny across their entire back, showcasing their determination. “This demonstrates the courage and determination of China’s young people today. Their resolve against the CCP is even stronger than our older generation. They are willing to go to extremes. This spirit of the martyrs in Chinese history, which has long been neutered by the Party’s brainwashing education, is now revitalized, which is very encouraging.”
Photos from the June 4th image exhibition at the event showed a young person displaying tattoos on their back to the public, featuring famous 1989 tank man images from June 4th, as well as phrases like “Remember June 4th, refuse to forget,” and “China is not the CCP,” with the central theme being “Better to die than be unfree.”
“Because they have just come out from China, they have a better understanding of the social situation there. They see that China is indeed on the brink, especially the average Chinese citizens who no longer have any faith in the Communist Party. They truly feel that there is a raging fire and turmoil in Chinese society, sensing a momentum that revolution is imminent,” Chen Weijian concluded.