Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition News and Article Release Issue: A70-G21
中国民主运动海外联席会议新闻与文章发布号：A70-G21
Release Date: June 4, 2004
发布日：2004年6月4日
Topic: The 15th June 4 Memorial Service in Washington DC and Ding ZiLin's Letter to Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars for the occasion
标题：美国华盛顿举行由全美学自联主持的六四15周年纪念并宣读丁子霖教授的来函
Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)
此号以中文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
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Washington DC 15th June 4 Commemoration
On June 3, 2004, the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) held the 15th June 4 memorial service in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington DC. Since 1989, the IFCSS had held the June 4 Memorial Service in Washington DC every year.
The president of IFCSS, Mr. Zheng Xing, hosted the event. More than 100 people attended the Commemoration that included a candle light vigil, speeches, flowers, songs, videos and a photo exhibition of more than 100 pictures from the spring of 1989 democracy movement in China. A video of the June 4 victims' families' testimony was especially attracting people.
The minority leader of the US House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Democrat), and her aids came for the event and delivered a speech, after a Congressional resolution she co-sponsored with Rep. Chris Cox (Republican) to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre in China had passed in the US House. The Resolution also commemorated the 15th Anniversary of June 4, 1989. Congresswoman Pelosi has been a long time supporter of China's democracy and human rights movement.
Many Chinese human rights and democracy advocators and supporters joined the event. Many organizations co-sponsored this event, including the Greater Washington Network for Supporting Democracy in China, Wei Jingsheng Foundation, Taiwanese Benevolent Association of Greater Washington, The Laogai Research Foundation, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, China Support Network, International Committee for Freedom to Support The Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam, etc.
Photo link 1: In Washington DC’s TianAnMen Park, photo Exhibition of 1989 Democracy Movement:
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/exhibition040603IFCSS-3.jpg
Photo link 2: US House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi delivers speech at IFCSS’ June 4 15th anniversary commemoration:
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/PelosiN040603IFCSS-3.jpg
Photo link 3: Lights of Hope:
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/HopeLights040603DC-3.jpg
Although she was cut off from communication several days before, Ding ZiLin's letter to the IFCSS was delivered to the event. Ding's son was killed on June 4, 1989. The following is the letter.
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A Speech at the Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre, in Washington, D.C.
June 3, 2004
Friends from the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars,
Friends who are attending this memorial service, Chinese or foreign:
You gather today in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the June 4 Massacre in 1989 and the victims from that massacre. Although I cannot attend your gathering in person today, I am moved and feeling great consolation from you kind concern and support.
The past 15 years have been very long for me personally. When my son died I was 52, still in my prime, but today I am close to 70, stepping into the old age of my life. From our "Tiananmen Mothers" group, more than a dozen, some older than I was and some younger than I was, have already left us for good. All of them were sorry not to have seen the day of justice for their loved ones before they died. There is indeed no telling whether the surviving mothers and fathers of the victims at my age would live to see that day ourselves. However, since we have stood up, we will not give up and lie down doing nothing again.
About half a month ago, we 40 victim families in Beijing held a solemn service in commemoration of our loved ones at the 15th anniversary. That service was originally scheduled for April 4, one day before QinMin festival when all Chinese commemorate our lost loved ones. However, Ding Zilin, Zhang Xianling and Huang Jinping were arrested by the authorities for ridiculous reasons, and in consequence the scheduled service had to be rescheduled. Many victim families were given stern warnings one day before the rescheduled service but the service turned out to be a success and the attendees double that of the 10th anniversary commemoration service. This attendance demonstrates that the death of our loved one has glued us together.
With 15 years behind us, we can still foresee a long and bumpy road ahead of us. This is a struggle of the weak against the strong. This is a contest between justice and power. This is also a contest between memory and oblivion. This is a contest decided by time. We have in the past years come across and overcome many difficulties and we expect more are ahead in the days to come, but we will not stop short of our goal of attaining justice for our loved ones.
At this moment, I would like to thank all of you on behalf of all "Tiananmen Mothers". Tiananmen Mothers would not have existed without the broad help and support of Chinese and foreign friends at home and abroad. Tiananmen Mothers would not have existed without the persistent concern and help from all oversea civilian organizations including IFCSS. We would not have sustained this long without your support.
I also would like to thank all friends in IFCSS on behalf of Ms. Zhang Xianlin and Ms. Huang Jinping and I would like to thank all friends who participated in appealing and helping to get us released. Especially we would like to thank the 71 western university scholars specializing in China for their appeal. We would not have been released so quickly without your appeal for justice.
The yearning voices of Tiananmen for 15 years still sounds as yesterday and the ideal of Tiananmen is still at our heart. We have lost the loved ones and lost the joy of being with them and we have lost what a citizen deserves to have. However, the memories of the fine moments are still with us in the bottom of our heart.
I believe the most important in our gathering today to commemorate the death is not to lose the fine ideals of Tiananmen movement. Otherwise, we would still be groping in the dark and there would be no hope for our country.
Thank you.
Ding Zilin, Beijing
(Content credit: The Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars)
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中文版
Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition News and Article Release Issue: A70-G21
中国民主运动海外联席会议新闻与文章发布号：A70-G21
Release Date: June 4, 2004
发布日：2004年6月4日
Topic: The 15th June 4 Memorial Service in Washington DC and Ding ZiLin's Letter to Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars for the occasion
标题：美国华盛顿举行由全美学自联主持的六四15周年纪念并宣读丁子霖教授的来函
Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)
此号以中文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
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美国华盛顿举行由全美学自联主持的六四15周年纪念并宣读丁子霖教授的来函
2004年6月3日晚，全美中国学生学者自治联合会在华盛顿中国驻美大使馆前举行了六四15周年的纪念活动。自1989年以来，全美学自联每年都在这里举行有关的六四纪念活动。
纪念活动由全美学自联主席邢铮先生主持。上百人参加了这次烛光悼念活动。除了演讲，音乐外，这次活动还包括有图片展览及六四难属证词的录象。
美国众议院少数党领袖南希波洛希及助手到临会场并讲话。今天，国会通过了由她领头所推出的有关纪念六四15周年的议案。
有关像片的网页连接之一: 一九八九民主运动图片展览
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/exhibition040603IFCSS-3.jpg
有关像片的网页连接之二：美国众议院少数党领袖南希波洛希讲话
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/PelosiN040603IFCSS-3.jpg
有关像片的网页连接之三：希望之光
http://weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2004/newsletters2004-2/HopeLights040603DC-3.jpg
集会还宣读了丁子霖给全美学自联及与会者们的来信。以下为丁子霖信的原文。
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丁子霖在全美学自联六四十五周年纪念大会上的书面发言
全美中国学生、学者自治联合会的朋友们：
所有前来参加纪念大会的中国和外国朋友们：
今天您们聚会在这里，纪念“六四”十五周年，追思“六四”大屠杀中的死难者。我虽然不能前来参加大会，但作为“天安门母亲”的一员，我的心情很激动，也感到很大的宽慰。
这十五年对我来说是漫长的，那年我儿子遇难的时候，我才52岁，还正当中年；如今我快70了，正步入晚年。在我们这个“天安门母亲”群体中，比我年岁大的，比我年岁小的，已有十多位离开了我们。他(她)们抱憾终生的是，没有在生前看到为死者讨回公道的一天。至於像我这样岁数的父亲或母亲能否等到那一天，现在也实难预料。但是，我们既然站起来了，就决不会再躺下！
在半个月前的一天，我们在京的约40位难属为十五年前被杀害的亲人们举行了一个隆重的追思祭奠仪式。这次祭奠原定是要在4月4日清明节那一天举行的，但因丁子霖，张先玲，黄金平等三位难友被抓而不得不改期举行，尽管在前一天已有难属受到公安警告，但这次参加祭奠仪式的人数却比十周年时增加了将近一倍，这充分显示了“天安门母亲”群体不可摧折的巨大凝聚力。
十五年过去了，我们前面的路程依然是那样的遥远，路途中依然布满着荆棘和陷阱。这是一场弱者对强者的抗争，一场道义对权力的抗争，一场记忆对遗忘的抗争，一场要由时间来决定胜负的抗争。在以往的岁月里，我们曾遭受过一次又一次的挫折；在以后的岁月里，我们一定还会遇到无数次的挫折。但是，我们既然跨出了第一步，就决不会中途止步！
在这里，我谨代表“天安门母亲”群体向各位表示衷心的感谢。假如没有海内外同胞及外国朋友的广泛声援和支持，假如没有包括全美学自联在内的许多海外民间团体的持之以恒的关注与帮助，就不会有今天“天安门母亲”群体的存在，更不可能在艰难的岁月里坚持抗争到今天。
我在这里还要代表张先玲女士、黄金平女士感谢全美学自联的朋友们，感谢所有参与声援、营救过我们的中国和外国朋友们，其中包括来自世界很多个国家的71位受人尊敬的中国问题专家和学者们。在我们被羁押期间，如果没有海内外有识之士的正义呼声，我们不可能在短时期内获释。
回顾十五年来走过的路程，当年天安门的呼声仍在我们耳畔回响，当年天安门的理想仍在我们胸中激荡。我们失去了亲人，失去了欢乐，失去了作为一个公民应该享有的一切；但当年所有一切美好的东西仍保留在我们心底。我想，今天大家来纪念89天安门运动，来悼念“六四”事件中的死难同胞，最重要的一点就是不要丢掉这份美好的东西。否则，我们将继续在黑暗中踯躅，我们这个民族将毫无希望。
我要讲的话就是这些，谢谢大家！
丁子霖
2004.6.3
（本刊感谢全美学自联）
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