On June 4, 2024, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chair and Co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), convened a hearing to mark the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. The session, titled "Tiananmen at 35--The Ongoing Struggle for Human Rights and Democracy in China," examined the legacy of the Tiananmen protests and their significance for contemporary rights advocates. It also addressed intimidation faced by activists in North America and restrictions on commemorations in Hong Kong.
In attendance were Senators Laphonza R. Butler (D-CA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Chair Smith emphasized, “Tiananmen is not simply a past event to study and ponder, but a present reminder that when the Chinese people are free to assemble and to speak, they demand liberty and political reform.” He added that the principles of freedom and democracy are universal aspirations that cannot be destroyed by force.
Cochair Merkley remarked, “The people gathered in Tiananmen Square in the spring of 1989 were demanding their government respond to their grievances as well as their aspirations...Thirty-five years later, that brutal grip of oppression has only tightened.”
Zhou Fengsuo, a former student leader during Tiananmen who now serves as Executive Director of Human Rights in China, testified about the enduring impact of the protests. “We remember Tiananmen because it reminds us of what a different China could have been,” he said. Zhou highlighted figures like Liu Xiaobo and Xu Zhiyong who continued their activism despite severe repercussions.
Yang Ruohui, a student at Humber College in Canada and founder of Citizens Assembly, discussed his activism on campus amid harassment from Chinese Communist Party supporters. He noted that events like the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition movement reinforced his commitment to democracy advocacy.
“Karin” (a pseudonym), a student activist at Columbia University, shared her experiences with transnational repression against outspoken Chinese students abroad. She described increased harassment through personal attacks, surveillance, and coercion involving family members back in China.
Rowena He from the University of Texas reflected on preserving Tiananmen's memory despite facing professional consequences herself. She recounted how annual vigils in Hong Kong have been disrupted due to political pressures.
Zhou Fengsuo concluded with optimism about younger generations' efforts to preserve Tiananmen's legacy: “Even though the CCP has tried...to erase the memory...it remains the most sought-after information for young people from China.”
The CECC’s hearing webpage provides access to opening statements by Chairs, witness testimonies, recommendations for Congressional action, and video archives.
