Diaz-Balart: We Remember the Brave Heroes of the Tiananmen Square Massacre

Press Release

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement on the thirty-year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

"Today, we mark thirty years since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. On that day, thousands of courageous, unarmed protesters faced down the tanks and bullets ordered against them by Communist China's Politburo. We recall their bravery as they gathered together to simply call for democracy and basic freedoms of expression, assembly, and political opinion. We also remember our disbelief and horror at the brutality unleashed against them by their own despotic leaders. Communist China now continues its autocratic methods by imprisoning political activists, oppressing religious groups, and censoring media. It spreads its propaganda and other insidious activities with its Confucius Institutes, piracy of intellectual property, and espionage against the United States and our allies.

"While the demands for democracy at Tiananmen Square did not result in the immediate liberation of the oppressed Chinese people, it demonstrated a profound desire for freedom stirring within many languishing inside totalitarian China. And, perhaps much like the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 became important to Hungary's eventual liberation decades later, Tiananmen Square may mark an important point in China's path toward freedom. When the Chinese people are finally free, I believe that we will credit the heroes of Tiananmen Square, and their sacrifices, in helping to pave the way."

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