Still Remembering June 4, 36 Years Later

Lighting a candle to remember June 4

The 36th anniversary marking the June 4th massacre did not go unnoticed in Vancouver. This evening a few hundred people converged on David Lam Park in the downtown area to mark the event with speeches, songs and candles.

There were stalls presenting information about what happened to Hong Kong, in particular the 2019 protests, what happened in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, a bust of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, and a poster showing pictures of the candlelight vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park every year from 1990 to 2020. There was also a mini Zunzi exhibition featuring his political cartoons.

Speakers including Chow and Giggs hold candles

When the vigil this evening began, organisers spoke about not only remembering the victims who died in Beijing in 1989, but also Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan, and Chow Hang-tung, former organisers of the Hong Kong vigil, who have been in jail for over 1,000 days.

Organisers also said since the vigil was declared illegal in Hong Kong since 2020, it was even more important to be able to mark it in Canada.

People like Dr Diana Lary, professor of Emerita of History at the University of British Columbia spoke about being in Beijing in June 1989 and how she safely returned to Vancouver and pretty much every year since has commemorated the event. 

During her speech she felt most for the Tiananmen Mothers who are in their 80s and don't have any grandchildren, let alone children. Lary also noted how there were many authoritarian governments around the world, and worried about the Canadian government possibly doing more business with China because of our economic situation these days.

Former radio host Giggs, Edmund Wan Yiu-sing also took to the stage in a spirited speech. He encouraged people listening to close their eyes and for 10 seconds think of people in Hong Kong who previously attended the candlelight vigil and imagine them here. 

People place candles in holders

He relayed that Lee recently had surgery, while Ho's health wasn't very good. He told them and Chow that they were not forgotten.

There was also a voice recording of one of the Tiananmen Mothers, who was pleased that others outside China were remembering what happened 36 years ago today.

The big draw of the evening was Alex Chow Yong-kang, who is currently studying his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. He said June 4th was not only China's history, but the world's history, and Canada's history, as we have marked the event for the past 36 years. 

Chow urged people to not only remember the victims, but also create connections. "We are not here merely to mourn, but to reaffirm our humanity and dignity. The candlelight of memory may eventually dim, but our commitment never will," he said in English.

As he spoke, white candles were handed out, and while the sun was still setting, it wasn't pitch dark yet. Nevertheless, candles were lit and then attendees were encouraged to place them in a candle holder near the stage.

Yes we still remember, and we will continue to do so.