On September 23rd, Chinese Communist Party representatives attending a conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City drew attention from Chinese residents living in the United States. Demonstrators from various parts of the U.S. gathered in front of the Manhattan hotel where Chinese Premier Li Qiang was staying, protesting against the various atrocities committed by the CCP against the people.
The protestors formed a line at the scene, holding up banners in both Chinese and English with slogans such as “We want democracy! We want freedom!” and “CCP step down for religious freedom,” expressing their anger towards the human rights situation and injustices in China. They unanimously believed that only by the CCP stepping down could the people truly regain their freedom and democracy.
One protester, Wang Mengmeng, a former language teacher from Los Angeles, traveled to New York specifically to join the protest. She criticized the oppressive nature of the Chinese education system, citing issues of depression and self-harm among students that are often overlooked by school authorities. Wang herself suffered from severe depression and anxiety during her teaching career in China. She emphasized the need to speak out for education, no matter how small the impact may be.
Another protester from Los Angeles, Liu Xiaoling, had her life completely changed by the pandemic lockdown. She was confined to her home for months in 2022, subjected to daily forced COVID-19 tests and reliant on her landlord for basic necessities. The widespread infections and mandatory vaccine policies in China after the lockdown left her disillusioned, leading her to leave China in 2023. Her grandfather lost his life due to the pandemic control measures, further fueling her hatred towards the CCP.
Chen Bojun from Los Angeles faced repercussions from authorities for participating in the “Blank Paper Movement.” He embarked on a perilous journey to the United States in 2024, enduring obstacles for nearly a month before arriving. Chen emphasized that despite the risks, it was a necessary path to freedom, and he cherished the opportunity to freely express himself in the U.S.
Li Xiang from Xinjiang faced interrogation by authorities for using a VPN on his phone, narrowly escaping being sent to a concentration camp. He took the risk to journey to the U.S. at the end of 2022. Upon reaching the U.S.-Mexico border, American soldiers welcomed him with the words, “Welcome to the United States,” dissipating years of fear in that moment. Li stressed the belief that despite the challenges ahead, the CCP will eventually fall.
Cheng Xiaoxiao from Los Angeles fled her hometown in Anhui, China, with her nine-year-old child in 2023. She had been a victim of domestic violence and had repeatedly sought help from the police to no avail. She criticized the Chinese police for disregarding domestic abuse cases, referring to the Chinese education system as a “brainwashing machine” and the suppression of beliefs. In the U.S., she experienced legal protection and religious freedom for the first time, hoping that more young people would awaken to the truth that the people belong to freedom and the CCP will eventually collapse.
The protest at the United Nations in New York City brought together Chinese exiles from different backgrounds, each with their own unique experiences but a common goal of seeking freedom and resisting oppression. As high-ranking CCP officials appeared at the United Nations, the overseas protest voices against China’s regime continued to grow louder and stronger.