Dozens of justice seekers in the San Francisco Bay Area gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Friday, November 22, 2024, to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the “Blank Paper Movement” and to show support for the “Hong Kong Democratic 47 Case” who have been framed under the Chinese Communist Party’s National Security Law. They called on people not to forget the tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic and the evils of authoritarianism.
The event was chaired by Fang Zheng, President of the Democracy Education Foundation. Despite the stormy weather, participants, mostly young men born in mainland China, stood under umbrellas, wearing raincoats, holding blank papers, protest banners, and display boards to express their demands.
Organizer Mr. Zhang Junjie first introduced the two main themes of the event, which are to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the “Blank Paper Movement” and to support the 47 wrongly convicted Hong Kong democracy activists.
Mr. Zhang pointed out that the “Blank Paper Movement” is the largest grassroots protest action in China since the “Jasmine Revolution.” It started with social demands like lifting restrictions and abolishing dynamic zero-COVID policies but gradually evolved into political demands for the resignation of the Communist Party leaders, profoundly impacting Chinese society.
He stated that the anger and power shown by the people in the “Blank Paper Movement” marked a crucial turning point in the decline of Communist authoritarianism. Commemorating this history is not only a recognition of the spirit of resistance among the Chinese people but also a reminder to the world to “remember the suffering of the Chinese people” stemming from the “cruelty and arrogance” of Communist authoritarian rule.
From the early concealment of the epidemic by the Chinese Communist Party, to the admonition of whistleblowers like Dr. Li Wenliang, and to the draconian zero-COVID measures, “the authoritarian regime of the Communist Party shows no respect for the people’s right to information and life.”
“While dictators may command armies,” they “even fear a blank piece of paper.”
He believed that the humor in this situation lies in the fact that the act of holding up a blank paper for demands entirely depends on the imagination of the dictator. If the imagination is that the people adore them, then they are patriotic youth. If the imagination is that the people want to overthrow them, then they are deemed troublemakers incited by foreign forces. The Communist dictators have shown through their actions that they know deep down the hatred and anger of the people towards them.
He mentioned that during the “Three Years of Great Famine,” the Communist rulers, to prove the superiority of their socialist system, blocked information about widespread starvation in China and donated large amounts of grain overseas while many Chinese people were starving to death.
He emphasized that such anti-human regimes that sacrifice “the lives and freedoms of the people to maintain their political legitimacy” should be completely abandoned.
Moreover, Mr. Zhang urged overseas Chinese to pay attention to the persecution faced by the 47 Hong Kong democracy activists under the Chinese National Security Law. He stressed that people across regions have clearly seen the “harm and brutality of the Communist anti-human system” to society and the people. At this critical moment, overseas Chinese should “voice support for the Hong Kong democracy activists and oppose the persecution they face under the Chinese National Security Law.”
In conclusion, Zhang Junjie thanked the brave individuals who braved the wind and rain to attend the event, praising their spirit of courageously speaking up for their own and the Chinese people’s rights. “Dictators deceive minds with lies and terrify hearts with violence,” and what they fear most is more people rejecting lies and violence, “as speaking out is the best resistance against authoritarian rule.”
During the event, Xiaomin Huang, a member of the Chinese Democratic Party, called for global attention to the plight of the Chinese people under the brutal rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
She spoke in English, stating that the “Blank Paper Movement” two years ago symbolized “opposition to Chinese oppression, the pursuit of freedom and democracy. Blank paper may be silent, but it speaks profoundly. It not only represents the suppression of speech but also symbolizes the silence and suffering of the Chinese people unable to express themselves due to oppression.”
She also mentioned that the 47 Hong Kong democracy activists, charged with “conspiracy to overthrow the government” for participating in elections, are facing blatant political persecution. They are willing to make great sacrifices to defend freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. This is not just a tragedy for Hong Kong but also a sorrow for the whole of China. Only by overthrowing the brutal rule of the Communist Party can real hope be brought to China.
“The ‘price of a just conscience is priceless!’ The fearlessness and perseverance of these heroes should inspire each and every one of us to courageously speak up for freedom and justice.” She urged everyone to work together to “eliminate the Communist dictatorship, revive China, and rewrite the chapter of freedom and democracy!”
The event drew many young people from mainland China. Mr. Cui, in his thirties, expressed his outrage in an interview with our reporter, emphasizing that the recent trial of the 47 heroic democracy activists in Hong Kong was very angering to him. “They were only contributing to democracy in Hong Kong, doing what was normal before the ‘return’ of Hong Kong,” yet because of “the dark operations of the Communist Party, our heroes have been imprisoned. I am very angry; I feel that this is not something a human would do.”
Many of those who participated in the “Blank Paper Movement” two years ago were young people, “they are the future of our China!” Mr. Cui exclaimed, saying that for his motherland – China, “if we continue to strive, there is hope for China.”
Furthermore, he shared with our reporter, “Previously in mainland China, I used to read various news on many issues.” As problems in various fields continued to emerge, whether from experts or scholars, “everyone would always say: ‘This is a systemic issue.’ But when going deeper, what is the system? How to solve it? No one dares to talk about it.” Mr. Cui asserted that the so-called systemic issue is the problem with the Communist Party, and unless the Communist Party is eliminated, China will never have hope!
A young man in his early 1990s, Mr. Xu, who recently came to the United States, told our reporter, “I am participating in this event today to show support for the 47 democratic individuals in Hong Kong who have been imprisoned. They are good people fighting for democracy and freedom but have been locked away by the Chinese Communist Party. It is clear how dark and oppressive it is under the rule of the Communist Party. The Communist Party is a barbaric and brutal regime that must be overthrown. These 47 heroes are innocent! The guilty ones are the Communist Party!”
He further stated that due to the Communist Party’s numerous evil actions, he is strongly anti-Communist. Moving forward, he plans to stay in the United States and do his part to continue participating in democratic, freedom, and human rights activities to resist Communist tyranny.
As the event entered its later stages amidst cold winds and heavy rain, the organizers, considering everyone’s health, decided to end the event early. Before concluding, the participants chanted slogans: “Blank Paper Movement, never stop. Free Hong Kong, the era of revolution. Hold the Communist Party accountable, hold human rights violators accountable, and judge Xi Jinping. The righteous will live, the evil Communist Party will perish. Free China, free Hong Kong!” ◇