Markey, Romney, Bera, Chabot Introduce Bicameral Resolution Remembering Victims of 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre and Condemning Crackdown on Human Rights in China and Hong Kong

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the four leaders of Congress’s foreign relations subcommittees on Asia – Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, and Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia – introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution remembering the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and condemning the continued and intensifying crackdown on human rights within China and Hong Kong.

“Today we remember those who lost their lives 32 years ago as they peacefully expressed their desire for democracy and the protection of human rights in China,” said Chairman Markey. “The battle for fundamental freedoms continues as the Chinese government continues to crack down on pro-democracy activists, religious and ethnic minorities, free speech, and human rights defenders. Congress must continue to stand against this authoritarianism and hold the Chinese government accountable for atrocities carried out against its own people. Today, on this dark anniversary, we stand in solidarity with the brave activists in Hong Kong and throughout China who have and continue to put their own safety on the line to stand against oppression.”

“More than three decades after the massacre at Tiananmen Square, the Chinese Communist Party continues to oppress and persecute its people,” said Ranking Member Romney. “It commits a genocide of 1 million Uyghurs; crushes promised freedoms in Hong Kong; censors print, broadcast and social media; and imprisons or executes dissidents. With this resolution, we honor the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and condemn the ongoing repression of human rights in China and Hong Kong.”

“Today marks the 32^nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when the Chinese government mowed down thousands of its own citizens taking to the streets to demand basic freedoms and democratic reforms,” said Chairman Bera. “Over three decades later, Beijing continues its violent repression and persecution, including imprisoning those who dare commemorate the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, committing genocide against the Uyghur Muslims, jailing journalists, human rights lawyers, and pro-democracy activists, and imposing authoritarian restrictions on Hong Kong’s autonomy and electoral system. On this solemn anniversary, the United States Congress stands in solidarity with those who lost their lives during the Tiananmen Square massacre, and in support of freedom, democracy, and justice for the people of China.”

“Today marks the terrible anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre,” said Ranking Member Chabot. “The world must never forget the victims or that they suffered for the dream of a free China. On June 4, 32 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party showed its true nature, which is on full display today in the genocide against the Uyghurs, the crackdown on Hong Kong, the persecution of Christians and Falun Gong practitioners, and so many other abuses. This is the real CCP, an evil communist dictatorship fundamentally incapable of fulfilling the core aspiration of the Chinese people, a simple desire to live in freedom.”

The resolution includes twelve original cosponsors in the House of Representatives: Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Andy Levin (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Dina Titus (D-NV), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Mark E. Green (R-TN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Thomas Tiffany (R-WI), Dwight Evans (D-PA), and Gregory W. Meek (D-NY).