Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, a significant event in which tens of thousands of peaceful Chinese pro-democracy protestors were violently suppressed. The exact number of casualties from that day remains unknown, but this commemoration honors all those who were killed and imprisoned on June 4, 1989, and in the days that followed.
This remembrance extends to the many silenced voices across China, including those in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. Efforts will continue to promote accountability for human rights abuses by the People's Republic of China (PRC), both domestically and internationally. There is a renewed call for the PRC to recognize and respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which it is a signatory. Additionally, there is an appeal for the PRC to accept recommendations made during this year's Universal Periodic Review of its human rights record, including the unconditional release of individuals detained arbitrarily and unjustly.
As Beijing seeks to suppress memories of June 4, the United States reaffirms its solidarity with those who persist in their struggle for human rights and individual freedom. The courage and sacrifice demonstrated by those who stood up in Tiananmen Square thirty-five years ago remain unforgettable.
