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January 23 Memorial to Zhao Ziyang in Fredericksburg China e-lobby FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2004 January 23 Memorial to Zhao Ziyang in Fredericksburg On June 4, 1989, the Chinese Communist Party answered the protestors in Beijing with hot lead. At least three thousand protestors, probably many thousands more, died bravely in the city demanding freedom for themselves and their fellow Chinese people. Since that time, Communist China has veered into widespread abuses of human rights, rampant corruption, and increasing anti-Americanism. It did not have to be this way. Communist Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang had no interest in a massacre. He supported negotiations with the protestors. He was overruled by Deng Xiaoping and Li Peng. As Deng ordered the military into the square, Zhao was stripped of his title and placed under house arrest. He never recanted his opposition to the slaughter, and remained in house arrest until the day he died ¨C this past Sunday. In honor of Zhao, several pro-democracy groups have asked for people to gather on Sunday, January 23, to commemorate him. Answering their call, the China e-Lobby hereby announces a commemoration of the late Zhao Ziyang will be held at the Caroline Street Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia from 1 to 3 PM EST on Sunday, January 23. The memorial will honor Zhao's life, especially his brave decision to speak truth to power and refuse to support the Tiananmen massacre ¨C a decision for which he spent the last decade and a half of his life under house arrest. Among those scheduled to attend and speak is Shengde Lian, executive director of the Free China Movement, a coalition of thirty Chinese pro-democracy organizations around the world. During the demonstrations of 1989, he was one of the key student leaders who organized the effort to block the Communist military's entrance into Beijing. His efforts delayed the military action by two weeks, and spared at least a quarter of a million people. He is also the author of Freedom Fighter (an autobiography). The China e-Lobby is an organization dedicated to exposing the abuses of human rights, threats to American security, and attacks on general decency committed by Communist China, and to influencing American policy to ensure these egregious acts do not go unopposed. For more information: D.J. McGuire, China e-Lobby: china_e_lobby@yahoo.com, (540) 845-1335 For those who can attend, thank you, and here are the directions: FROM I-95 (north or south): take exit 133A (US Rte. 17 Business - Falmouth). Take 17 Bus. to the intersection with U.S. Rte 1, and take a right (US 1 South). Take US 1 South over the bridge to Princess Anne Street, and take a left. Take Princess Anne to Lewis Street, and take a left. Take Lewis Street to Caroline Street - the Library is at the corner of Lewis and Caroline. (01/22/2005 21:34) |