Tag Archives: Tiananmen

Ann Noonan’s Speech at the 34th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre in NY

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Ann Noonan                      6-4-2023

 

Event commemorating the 34th anniversary of June 4 in Flushing, New York

Venue: In front of Queens Public Library at Flushing on Main Street and Kissena Blvd

 

(Ann Noonan giving a speech with pastor translating next to her.)

Thank you for inviting me to attend this event today to lend my voice, on behalf of the Committee for US International Broadcasting, in memory of the thousands of students and freedom fighters who tragically lost their lives in the pursuit of democracy in China 34 years ago.

 

In the words of the late Claudia Rosett, who reported from Tiananmen Square in June, 1989: “With this slaughter, China’s communist government has uncloaked itself before the world.”

 

It sure did.

 

The world watched these events unfold on our televisions. We prayed for the students who only wanted the same freedoms and democracy and human rights that we here in the United States enjoy and often take for granted.

 

I invite everyone gathered today and those who have outreach to the US Congress Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to strengthen and reinforce the mission of the US Agency for Global Media by better funding and utilizing all of the resources available at Voice of America Cantonese, Mandarin and Tibetan Services, as well as Radio Free Asia.

 

This soft diplomatic power can help people in Mainland China, in Hong Kong, in Tibet and in the Xinjiang Province, formerly known as East Timor. We can give people in these various regions of the world hope by supporting democracy and basic human rights, including freedom of speech.

 

This US international soft power, which our taxpayer dollars support, can be extremely effective in preserving the history of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, and keeping hope alive for the Tiananmen Mothers, and for those who survived June 4th.

 

The Committee for US International Broadcasting supports ongoing efforts to prevent China’s government from pressuring and regulating news reports from Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

 

We are proud of recent efforts to open the world’s only Tiannamen Square Museum here in New York and congratulate its founders.

 

I pray that the memory of June 4 will remain in the hearts and minds of Americans, and that our efforts as a nation will help to address the injustice that we all witnessed.

 

Thank you.

 

“Stones of Tiananmen” Review

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Source： WRIC                                                                        07-29-2014

 

On July 28, 2014, a full-length play, “Stones of Tiananmen” was stage read for the first time at the HBO building in NYC.  Written by Cynthia L Cooper and directed by Peggy Howard Chane, the play features the stories of China’s jailed Nobel Peace Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, his wife Liu Xia, “Mothers of Tiananmen” leader Professor Ding Zilin, and her husband Jiang Peiken, and their struggle against injustice in the Chinese government decades after the Tiananmen Massacre.

 

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Part of the audience attending the rehearsal.  (photo by WRIC)

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Back row: from left to right, director of CUSIB member Ann Noonan and her husband and fellow CUSIB member Mr.Justin Yu also attended the Stones of Tiananmen.

 

Women’s Rights in China (WRIC) founder/director, Jing Zhang went to see the play performed and this was her reaction: “I went to see the play not knowing what to expect. However, as soon as it started, I was surprised by how genuine and authentic the actors sounded.  Their voices were so full of emotion that if I closed my eyes, I couldn’t believe this was an act. The “Stones of Tiananmen” was so engaging and when I actually turned around to look at other people’s reactions I knew they felt the same. People in the audience were laughing and crying.”

 

“The play really reflects the political reality in China,” Jing explained. “The authoritarian government’s psychological torture of Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia etc. indicates their hostility and fear towards democracy and freedom. It is a huge irony that an economic giant like China continues to detain a Nobel Peace Laureate.”

“From the Democracy Wall in 1979, to the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989, so many people have sacrificed their lives, lost their freedom,” Jing said. “Until today, the Tiananmen Mothers who have lost their children or husbands still cannot publicly mourn for their dead family. Gao Yu, a conscientious reporter who was a friend of Liu Xiaobo and Ding Zilin, fighting alongside them, was put into jail many times after the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. In April this year, she was arrested as she exercised her freedom of speech, and hasn’t been released since. These fighters are the “Stones of Tiananmen”; their lives and freedom became stones, constructing a path for China towards democracy and freedom.” Jing thanked playwright C.L. Cooper and director Peggy Chane for recording this piece of history. It lets more people understand the huge costs that the modern Chinese have to pay when fighting for democracy and freedom.

 

The reading ended after 2 hours, and the audience applauded with excitement. Afterwards, WRIC founder Jing Zhang and USBIC Executive Director Ann Noonan exchanged opinions with the playwright and director.

 

Playwright C.L. Cooper is an author and investigative journalist who has written numerous novels, plays and articles about social justice and human rights, exposing corruption in both the American government and now, the Chinese. Peggy Howard Chane has directed and produced numerous works in television and previously directed a score of plays.

 

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At the end of the play, the audience stands up and applauds for the playwright, director and actors.(photo by WRIC)

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A group photo of WRIC founder Jing Zhang, USBIC Executive Director Ann Noonan, director Peggy Chane and Playwright C.L. Cooper after their discussion.