Women’s rights in
China organizes activity to support Liu Xia
Feminism
without borders: Women’s Rights in China, Liu Xia, Zhang Jing
03-18-2014
All photos taken by WRIC
For this year’s Women’s History Month, Women’s
Rights in China (WRIC), Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB)
and Visual Arts Guild’s New York Chapter co-organized an activity at Museum of
Tolerance New York City to support Liu Xia. They hope to raise international attention and gain public support for Liu Xia through this open and free
discussion, so Liu Xia can break free from China's brutal regime and live with
dignity and basic human rights.
The activity started with MC Rose Tang’s
introduction of WRIC founder Zhang Jing. Zhang then explained that these three
years, Liu Xia has been prohibited to see friends and visitors, use the
internet or phone, and send or receive messages and has been under long-term,
inhumane house arrest, seriously affecting her mental and physical health. To Liu,
‘the future is a closed window, within there is never-ending darkness and
nightmares’.
Zhang also talked about the mysterious death of
human rights defender Cao Shunli. ‘Under oppression from an authoritarian
government, we have lost one more brave sister. Miss Cao used her life and
blood to compose a sad and tragic song about human rights in China. We will never
forget the huge cost in fighting for freedom and individual rights, and our
sisters who sacrificed their lives for it.’
Zhang Jing
Afterwards, the audience stood up for a moment
of silence for Cao. Musician Daniel Carter, who has multiple talents and plays
for many bands, conveyed his deep feelings with a tune on his saxophone, paying
tribute to Liu Xia and mourning for Cao.
The
audience stand up for a moment of silence
WRIC volunteer Carla (above) and Rose Tang recite three poems by
Liu Xia.
Libby Liu, President of Radio Free Asia gave a
speech. ‘I am deeply honored to be here to pay tribute to Liu Xia, a brave
women. Liu has become a symbol for quiet resistance towards authority. We
recite her poems to show that she is not alone, that the world has not
forgotten her, that we stand with her.’ Libby announced that Radio Free Asia
will host a new weekly Mandarin program ‘Letters from prison’ starting from
April. The host will be reciting Liu’s poems in the first episode.
Ann Noonan, Executive Director of Committee for
U.S. International Broadcasting, read out a letter of appeal to First Lady Michelle
Obama, urging her to mention the stories of two ordinary Chinese women to the PRC
government and First lady Peng Liyuan during her visit to China on the 19th:
Cao Shunli was detained at the Beijing airport in September 2013 when
attempting to board a plan to Geneva for a UN human rights training workshop,
and was taken to the hospital a few months later. She was declared dead on 14
March, 2014. Li Shulian filed a petition
to the state to fight for her rights for many years, but received no results.
She died in the Longkou City Petitions Office in Shandong with wounds all over
her body. Relatives suspect that she was beaten to death. They demanded an
investigation, but have not succeeded. Li’s daughter has also been detained
many times when filing a petition.
Ann Noonan
Peggy Chane, President
of Visual Arts Guild New York Chapter, condemned the Chinese government for ‘murdering’
Liu Xia: ‘Ironically, China, which is one of the worst human rights violator,
is a member of the UN Human Rights Council.’ Visual Arts Guild called on US Representative to
the UN, Susan Rice, to take action and demand that China hand in a comprehensive
investigation report on the death of Miss Cao, and arrest those who are
responsible.
Peggy Chane
Emchi Kalsang Dolma, President of Regional Tibetan Women’s
Association NY & NJ, was also invited to give a speech. She expressed her care and
concern towards Liu Xia, and called on the public to support Tibetans who are also
oppressed by the PRC government and are resisting by self-immolation. A Tibetan
monk was invited on stage to say a prayer to comfort the souls of all Han and
Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives to fight against authority. He offered
his blessings to the Chinese people.
Emchi Kalsang Dolma
Devoted Christian Karin M. Burke has participated in many events
for charity, including assistance to Chinese people in exile. Worried about the
human rights situation in China, she said, ‘The suffering of Liu Xia is our
suffering as well. I am very honored today to stand here with everyone and
support her.’
Karin M.Burke
Even Reggie Littlejohn, Founder of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, who is
in California at the moment, sent her speech. The MC read it out on her behalf.
Reggie expressed her strong support towards Liu Xia and demanded the PRC
government to release Liu from inhumane house arrest, and give her back her
freedom.
A video clip of Liu Xia prepared by WRIC was shown. 40
masterpieces from Liu’s photos exhibition, provided by Guy Surmon, was also presented
on the screen. These photos are full of emotions, expressing the torment and
struggle of Liu under long-term imprisonment, and are a form of quiet resistance
towards autocratic power.
Volunteers of WRIC
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