Hong Kong Artist Detained for Mimicking Drinking Action Ahead of Tiananmen Square Anniversary: Freedom of Expression Shrinks Amidst China's Authoritarianism
Beijing's crackdown on freedoms promised to be maintained in Hong Kong for 50 years has intensified, with critics arguing stability prioritized over individual liberties
Hong Kong artist Sanmu Chen detained for mimicking drinking action ahead of Tiananmen Square anniversary
Incident highlights shrinking freedom of expression in Hong Kong and chilling effect of China's authoritarianism
New national security laws have forbidden large-scale vigils and led to arrests related to social media content about commemorating the event
Tiananmen Square crackdown saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in 1989, resulting in hundreds to thousands dead
In a stark reminder of the suppression of dissent and free speech in China, Hong Kong detained an artist on the eve of the 35th anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown. Sanmu Chen, a performance artist, was briefly detained by Hong Kong police after miming the action of drinking in front of a police van and appearing to draw or write something in the air. This incident highlights the shrinking freedom of expression in Hong Kong, as well as the chilling effect that China's authoritarianism has on its people and those living under its influence. The Tiananmen Square crackdown, which occurred on June 4, 1989, saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, dead. Hong Kong had been the only city in China where activists could openly commemorate the victims of the crackdown; however, new national security laws have forbidden large-scale vigils and led to arrests related to social media content about commemorating the event. The disappearance of these vigils is a clear indication that Beijing's crackdown on freedoms promised to be maintained in Hong Kong for 50 years has intensified, with critics arguing that stability has been prioritized over individual liberties. As China continues to tighten its grip on Hong Kong and suppress dissent, it remains to be seen how the people of Hong Kong will continue to resist these efforts and fight for their rights.
Rowena He, a prominent scholar of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, has been flying between the United States, Britain and Canada to give a series of talks aimed at speaking out for those who cannot.
'May 35th', which subtly references the June 4 crackdown, has been performed in London. It tells the story of an elderly couple who wish to properly mourn their son who died in 1989.
A museum dedicated to the Tiananmen crackdown opened in New York last June and features exhibits such as a blood-stained shirt and a tent used by student protesters.
Young people in mainland China can access overseas memorial activities online using VPNs to circumvent internet censorship.
Accuracy
The upcoming quarterly refunding update from the US Treasury will provide information on how much bond supply there will be.
Hong Kong's massive June 4 annual vigil mourning the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown has vanished due to the city’s clampdown on dissidents following huge anti-government protests in 2019.
To expand its audience, the museum plans to organize temporary exhibitions on university campuses in the U.S., and possibly in other countries over the longer term.
In the spring of 1989, a blue tent was pitched in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and sheltered student demonstrators.
The owner of the tent hid it during the June 4 crackdown by stuffing it into a bucket and retreated to safety.
The blue tent is now on display at the June 4th Memorial Museum in New York City.
Residents of Hong Kong donated money and supplies, including tents, to students in the mainland during the protests.
An annual vigil in Victoria Park commemorated the victims of the 1989 crackdown and affirmed freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kongers. However, in 2021, it stood empty due to new security laws making public mentions of the massacre a jailable offense.
Accuracy
Hong Kong provided an escape route for hundreds of Tiananmen dissidents after the crackdown.
Hong Kong police detained performance artist Sanmu Chen on the eve of the 35th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Police arrested an eighth person on suspicion of sedition over social media content related to commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown under a new national security law.
Accuracy
Hong Kong's massive June 4 annual vigil mourning the victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown has vanished due to the city’s clampdown on dissidents following huge anti-government protests in 2019.
Three leaders of the group that organized the vigil in Hong Kong were charged with subversion under a 2020 sweeping national security law. The group later voted to disband.
Tiananmen-related statues have been removed from universities in Hong Kong.
China will mark the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989.
Thousands of pro-democracy students and activists were killed or injured when Chinese authorities opened fire.
Beijing no longer needs to tread delicately around the June 4 massacre and has ramped up attempts to suppress memories of the attack.
Survivors are sharing memories of protests and crackdowns across Chinese cities outside of Beijing.
Hundreds of undercover police officers have been deployed to monitor events commemorating Tiananmen in Hong Kong, and eight people have been arrested over the last week for related social media content.
