What The Vigil Means For Victims Of The CCP: Hong Kong Police Detain Democracy Leader On Tiananmen Anniversary

Thousands of police are on standby to prevent any public commemoration after Hong Kong banned an annual candlelight vigil marking the deadly Tiananmen crackdown. The vigil has served for decades as a day of pro-democracy people power in Hong Kong.

A 2017 article from the UK Independent reminds us of the history of what the Hong Kong people are commemorating with their vigils:

At least 10,000 people died in the Tiananmen Square massacre, secret British cable from the time alleged.

The secret document suggested the death toll was much higher than later reported while claiming wounded students were bayoneted as they begged for their lives and the burnt remains of victims were hosed down the drains,” the UK Independent reported.

The people of Hong Kong feel deeply tied to the events, because of the loss of life, but also because of the struggle against Communism.

– where are you going?
– to the protest, tiananmen square
– why?
– why? because it's my duty! #TiananmenSquareMassacre pic.twitter.com/bi3lRXllD5

— #FreeSasahStaRosa (@gaeguIi) June 4, 2021

China has moved to crush Hong Kong’s democracy movement after protests rocked the city two years ago, hammering the freedoms and autonomy it promised the city would keep after British rule ended in 1997. One vigil organizer had been arrested before the day had begun.

” Chow Hang-tung had been arrested under section 17A of the Public Order Ordinance, which covers publicizing unlawful assemblies according to a police source,” AFP reported.

Victims of Communism reported on the marking of the 32 anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square:

Remember the victims. #TiananmenSquareMassacre pic.twitter.com/LRJzqmXi6D

— Victims of Communism (@VoCommunism) June 3, 2021

The people of Hong Kong, protesting Communism, had been warned that they would be arrested for participating and publicizing a protest. Hing Kong has been more heavily influenced by the Communist Party since President Donald J. Trump left the White House.

EXCLUSIVE: Hong Kong police detain democracy leader on Tiananmen anniversary. @AFP video of Hong Kong police detaining prominent activist Chow Hang-tung, with authorities determined to prevent any protests on the anniversary of Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown.

EXCLUSIVE: Hong Kong police detain democracy leader on Tiananmen anniversary.@AFP video of Hong Kong police detaining prominent activist Chow Hang-tung, with authorities determined to prevent any protests on the anniversary of Beijing's deadly Tiananmen crackdown pic.twitter.com/7GxkmlLcDC

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 4, 2021

Hong Kong university students clean the ‘Pillar of Shame’. On the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, students in Hong Kong clean a memorial to those killed when Chinese troops crushed peaceful democracy protests in Beijing in 1989.

The Epoch Times reported:

“Hong Kong police on Friday arrested prominent pro-democracy activist Chow Hang Tung for allegedly promoting an unauthorized assembly on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The arrest of Chow, 37, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, came as thousands of police were deployed to patrol the city’s streets to halt any “unlawful assemblies.”

Before Hong Kong authorities banned residents from participating in events in memory of the 1989 pro-democracy protests for the second year in a row, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China had organized annual vigils.

Authorities canceled the event on June 1, again citing the ongoing CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic as grounds for doing so. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on June 1 that all agencies, groups, media outlets, and schools should conform to the Beijing-imposed National Security Law.

After the ban was announced, Chow had encouraged people to privately commemorate the event by lighting a candle wherever they are.

Kari Donovan

Kari is an ex-Community Organizer who writes about Cultural Marxism, grassroots activism, music, IndyCar racing and political campaigns.  @Saorsa1776