Dr. Yang Jianli’s Remarksat Tiananmen Candlelight Vigil hosted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
We gather tonight once again as one family to remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives during the Tiananmen Square Massacre 32 years ago. We come from different backgrounds and our individual stories are unique, but we share the same calling and commitment.
Thirty-two years have passed. Despite the passage of time, this page of history has yet to be turned, because justice has never been served. On the contrary, the Chinese government continues to commit atrocity after atrocity, largely with impunity.
The same regime that slaughtered students in the streets of Beijing is now engaged in countless other acts of oppression. Its victims include Hongkongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians Christians Falun Gong practitioners, as well as independent intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, private entrepreneurs and human rights activists.
Today, under the tyrannical CCP regime, human rights violations are at an all-time high. Even in my darkest moment on the morning of June 4th, 1989, when I witnessed tanks rolling over students on Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue, I never would have imagined that the CCP’s tyrannical oppression would continue unabated some three decades later.
As survivors, we commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre not only as a memorial for the victims, but, more importantly, as recognition of the continued struggle. In the face of the world’s most powerful dictatorship, fighting for freedom and justice is like the Tank Man standing in front of a convoy of tanks—it takes unparalleled courage and sacrifice.
This is the time for us to test our underlying values and beliefs, to reconnect what we say we believe with what we do. It is deeper than getting together and brighter than the candles we are holding. Justice must be served—this is our calling and our commitment.
As American writer E.B. White once wrote:
“As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread, and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.”
Tonight, we hold a vigil. Tomorrow morning, we will wind our clocks and begin another day in our fight for freedom and justice.
中译稿
翻译：王德育
今晚，我们守夜。明天早上，给钟表上好发条，开始我们为自由和正义而战的另一天
在共产主义受难者基金会举办的烛光晚会上的讲话
杨建利
2021年6月3日
今晚我们再次聚集在一起，像一个大家庭一样，缅怀32年前在天安门大屠杀中丧生的兄弟姐妹们。我们有着不同的背景和不同的经历，但我们有共同的使命和承诺。
三十二年过去了。尽管时光流逝，但这一页历史仍未翻过，因为正义从未得到伸张。相反，中国政府继续犯下一个又一个暴行，而且仍未得到应有的惩罚。
这个曾在北京街头屠杀学生的政权，现在正继续着无数其它的镇压暴行。其受害者包括香港人、维吾尔人、西藏人、蒙古人、基督徒和法轮功，以及独立学者、记者、律师、私营企业家和人权活动人士。
今天，在中共的暴政下，侵犯人权的暴行达到了“六四”以来前所未有的高度。即使在1989年6月4日上午我最黑暗的时刻—-当我目睹坦克在北京长安街上碾压学生时，我也不会想到中共的暴虐打压会在三十年余后继续有增无减。
作为幸存者，我们纪念天安门大屠杀不仅是对受害者的缅怀，更重要的是对持续抗争的坚持。面对世界上最强大的独裁政权，为自由和正义而战就像坦克人站在坦克车队前面一样，需要很大的勇气和牺牲。
现在是考验我们的价值观和信念的时候了，要把我们所说的信念与我们所做的重新联系起来。这比我们聚在一起更深刻，比我们手中的蜡烛更明亮。正义必须得到伸张—-这是我们的使命和承诺。
正如美国作家E.B.怀特曾经写道：
“只要世上还有一个正直的男人，只要世上还有一个富有同情心的女人，就一定会有更多这样的人，景象就不会荒凉。希望，正是艰难时刻留给我们的东西。我会在周日早晨起床，给钟表上好发条，为秩序和坚守尽一己之力。”
今晚，我们守夜，明天早上，我们给钟表上好发条，开始我们为自由和正义而战的另一天。