TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Over 6,000 people gathered at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall's Democracy Boulevard on Tuesday (June 4) for the "35th Anniversary of June 4th Evening - Pursuing Democracy, Fearlessly" event, organized by the New School for Democracy (華人民主書院協會) and several civil groups.
This year's commemoration of the Tiananmen Square crackdown saw a record turnout in nearly a decade, reflecting a growing discontent with the Chinese Communist Party's actions and a strong commitment to democracy among Taiwanese and Hong Kong residents in Taiwan.
A Night of Remembrance and Solidarity
The evening featured firsthand accounts from June 4th witnesses, relay talks by representatives of civil groups, street theater, and musical performances. Tseng Chien-yuan (曾建元), the executive director of the New School for Democracy, highlighted that this was the first June 4th commemoration since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) took office. The recent military drills conducted by the People's Republic of China (PRC) following the presidential inauguration on May 20 have sparked outrage in Taiwan, fueling participation in the event.
A United Front Against Oppression
The significant increase in participation from Hong Kongers, including those who traveled from Hong Kong specifically for the event, underscores the lack of political space in Hong Kong to commemorate June 4th. The crackdown on June 4th commemorations by the Hong Kong government has, paradoxically, united overseas Hong Kongers, leading to larger-scale commemorations abroad. The continuation of Taiwan's Bluebird Movement's (青鳥行動) momentum and the visible presence of young people, some even in high school uniforms, at the event, demonstrate the broadening horizons of Taiwan's younger generation and their direct approach to activism.
This year's record participation not only commemorates those who suffered on June 4th but also sends a strong message of resistance against authoritarianism and a commitment to democracy and human rights.
