As President Obama Meets Chinese President Xi, McGovern Leads Bipartisan Push to Put Human Rights at Top of the Agenda

Statement

Today, as President Obama meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA), a senior House Democrat and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), led a bipartisan "Stateless" Breakfast to honor the human rights defenders who have been imprisoned, intimidated, and silenced by the Chinese government and will not have a seat at the table for tonight's White House dinner.

"As President Obama and President Xi meet at the White House today, we are sending a clear bipartisan message that human rights must be at the top of the agenda. America has a responsibility to stand up for human rights at home and abroad," Congressman McGovern said. "We want to build a constructive relationship with China as a partner on the world stage, but the human rights abuses that continue there cannot be ignored. Today, we are giving a voice to all those who China has tried to silence. This is a moment for real leadership and the world is watching."

Joining McGovern today in honoring the human rights activists (full list below) were Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA), McGovern's fellow TLHRC co-chair, Senator Marco Rubio (FL), Co-Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, other members of Congress, and leaders from a wide range of international human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, China Aid, Initiatives for China, International Campaign for Tibet, Project 2049 Institute, Reporters Without Borders, and others.

"With President Xi's state visit, we will see the pomp and might of the Chinese state. It is all the more important, then, that we show the conscience of the Chinese people," Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) said. "To stand up for the rights of any man is to stand up also for the rights of everyone. The voices of those who have so bravely stood for human rights in China, and endured the oppression of the regime must be heard. I urge everyone here to continue to speak the truth about what is taking place in China, and to keep working until the rights and dignity of every human being are upheld."

"I am pleased to partner with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and many respected human rights organizations to host this breakfast to honor China's human rights defenders, on the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington," said Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). "The United States must commit to embracing the struggle of China's real heroes--the men and women who courageously lay claim, regardless of the cost, to their basic human rights. Together, we look forward to that day when the God-given rights of the Chinese people are finally realized."

"We are proud to partner with Congressmen McGovern and Pitts and other members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as we continue our work to lift the voices of human rights activists who have been oppressed in China," said Sophie Richardson, China Director of Human Rights Watch. "By praising these courageous human rights defenders today, we are honoring their sacrifice and continuing the fight for justice."

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