As Hong Kong clamps down, ‘burden of remembering’ #TiananmenMassacre shifts overseas

// In the decades since the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989, one of the most indelible images associated with the event, alongside “Tank Man” and the Goddess of Democracy statue, has been a sea of candles, lighting up the night.

Every year, tens of thousands gathered in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park to commemorate the dead and echo their calls for democracy in China.

No more. The 30th anniversary of the massacre in 2019 was the last time it was marked by a mass gathering in Hong Kong. Memorials since then have been banned on coronavirus grounds, as is the case this year, with public gatherings still limited to four people...

“With the last symbol of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Hong Kong being taken away it is crucial for Hong Kongers and all persons of conscience around the world to pick up the torch and make sure that the flame of freedom and democracy remain burning,” said Mabel Tung, chair of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (#VSSDM), a group founded by Chinese Canadians in support of the 1989 protests.

...Amnesty International said it is arranging events in more than 20 cities this year, and will call on participants not only to remember those killed in Beijing, but also “stand in solidarity with those in Hong Kong whose peaceful acts of commemoration are now criminalized.”

In Asia, one of the largest memorials will be in Taipei, where organizers plan to unveil a replica of the “Pillar of Shame,” a statue commemorating the Tiananmen victims that was forcibly removed from Hong Kong last year...//

Source: Globe and Mail #June3

Read the full article:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-as-hong-kong-clamps-down-burden-of-remembering-tiananmen-massacre/

#Remembrance #Solidarity #Overseas #Resistance #Diaspora #Hongkongers

Three Years Since the Death of "Yellow Raincoat Man": Police Warn Mourning Citizens of "Littering" as they Offered Flowers

Today marks the third year since the death of Marco Leung Ling-kit, the "Yellow Raincoat Man", who fell to his death wearing a yellow raincoat that said "Carrie Lam killed Hong Kong, Cops were cold blooded." His death came a week after a 1-million-strong march did not #CarrieLam to withdraw the extradition bill, and another massive protest on the day of the vote was met by violent police crackdown.

Outside Pacific Place in Admiralty, the scene of Leung's death, citizens have erected a roadside memorial this afternoon. It was soon surrounded by dozens of white flowers, origami flowers, and other memorial art from citizens who came to pay tribute to the fallen man.

Police came and cleared away the memorial, and accused a man who laid down flowers for "littering", giving verbal warnings and taking down their identities. "I have the right to mourn," the man said, criticizing the police's actions, "I'm only exercising my due rights."

Ms. S and Mr. J took half a day off work today to attend the memorial and lay down flowers. J said that he had never forgotten Leung, and came to "tell everyone: hold on and continue in our conviction." He had been concerned that simply mourning in public might put him at risk of being arrested, but decided that he couldn't worry too much.

"I have to do what I intended to do," he said, "or else some memories will slowly fade away. I don't want to be ashamed of myself."

source: In-Media HK
photos: first-hand
https://bit.ly/3MNehLS

#Jun15 #Remembrance #YellowRaincoatMan #LeungLingKit #NeverForget #Martyr