Vancouver's Reaction to the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre
Encyclopedia
There were international reactions toward the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
. In Vancouver, British Columbia
, the Chinese community was among those who stood against the Chinese Communist Party’s decision to take military action against student protesters. To demonstrate their support of the students in Tiananmen Square, various Chinese Canadian Organizations protested in Vancouver.
said, “Tiananmen Square has never been attacked by any government even the Japanese, Chinese culture has a long civilization that was destroyed by the government”.
In the following weeks the demonstrations continued. On June 6, 1989, 5000 members of the Vancouver Chinese community, also marched to Granville Street in Vancouver to the Chinese Consulate and held a 40-minute candlelight memorial service. Six days later, on June 12, 1989, more members of the Vancouver’s Chinese community rallied in Vancouver’s Chinatown. A group of 13,000 protesters joined this rally, which was followed by a speech by local political leader Ed Broadbent. Broadbent of the New Democratic Party
, called for the immediate withdrawal of the Canadian Ambassador in China and an emergency debate of the crisis by the United Nations Security Council.
Afterward, demonstrators took turns expressing their feelings about the Chinese Government’s decisions to use military violence on students. A Chinese student from Simon Fraser University
stated, “For each of those who have fallen, 1000 Chinese will come forward and rise up”.
.
After the exhibition, the community debated on an appropriate space for a replica statue. Members of Vancouver’s Society in Support of Democratic Movement believed a replica of the ‘Goddess of Democracy’ should be placed in Vancouver’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
(the garden is dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen a nationalist leader considered to be the father of modern China). However, the garden’s boards of trustees did not want the statue, because the garden was not a political forum. Others speculate that the trustees did not want the statue because the Chinese Communist Party donated more than $500, 000 to the building of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. The ‘Goddess of Democracy’ debate continued on August 26, 1989. Gim Huey, chairman of Vancouver’s Chinese Benevolent Association, pleaded that the statue must be in Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, stating that it was “not political” but was “promoting freedom and democracy". Gim Huey believed “Dr. Sun Yat-Sen stood for freedom and that’s the whole spirit of the Garden”. After failed talks with the Vancouver Park Board the proposed replica statue had no home. Finally, after much lobbying, the Vancouver Society in Support for the Democracy Movement was optimistic when talks began with the University of British Columbia
. Reportedly, “the society approached UBC through a campus organizations of Chinese students and scholars and got a warm welcome”. These plans followed through as the ‘Goddess of Democracy’ statues reside at the University of British Columbia today.
On October 1, 1989 the National Day events unfolded with two clear stances. A protest of more than 500 pro-democracy supporters, was held outside the Main street Skytrain station in Vancouver, against the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Chan Kwok-Kin criticized those who attended the regular National Day celebrations stating, “I think those who are feasting are doing so for personal gain”. Others like the Chinese Benevolent Association’s president Bill Yee defended their National Day celebration, arguing that it was rooted in a 30-year-old tradition.
Reactions to Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The events at Tiananmen were the first of their type shown in detail on Western television. The Chinese government's response was denounced, particularly by Western governments and media. Criticism came from both Western and Eastern Europe, North America, Australia and some east Asian and Latin...
. In Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, the Chinese community was among those who stood against the Chinese Communist Party’s decision to take military action against student protesters. To demonstrate their support of the students in Tiananmen Square, various Chinese Canadian Organizations protested in Vancouver.
Vancouver's Chinese Community Protests
Using similar tactics as the university students in Beijing, 1000 protesters took to Granville Street in Vancouver, British Columbia and marched to the Chinese Consulate. The Vancouver Sun reported that protesters wore black armbands, carried banners with slogans like “Li Peng, you are a beast!” or “Today’s menu Deng Xiaoping Stew—Free delivery all over China” and demanded a statement from the consul-general. Members of various Chinese organizations attended the demonstration including vice-president of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Canada Gim Huey. Huey said that the weekend massacre in Beijing has ended support for state communism in China. Chinese university students from British Columbia also participated in the events. A student from the University of VictoriaUniversity of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
said, “Tiananmen Square has never been attacked by any government even the Japanese, Chinese culture has a long civilization that was destroyed by the government”.
In the following weeks the demonstrations continued. On June 6, 1989, 5000 members of the Vancouver Chinese community, also marched to Granville Street in Vancouver to the Chinese Consulate and held a 40-minute candlelight memorial service. Six days later, on June 12, 1989, more members of the Vancouver’s Chinese community rallied in Vancouver’s Chinatown. A group of 13,000 protesters joined this rally, which was followed by a speech by local political leader Ed Broadbent. Broadbent of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, called for the immediate withdrawal of the Canadian Ambassador in China and an emergency debate of the crisis by the United Nations Security Council.
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
Afterward, demonstrators took turns expressing their feelings about the Chinese Government’s decisions to use military violence on students. A Chinese student from Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
stated, “For each of those who have fallen, 1000 Chinese will come forward and rise up”.
Dispute Over the Goddess of Democracy in Vancouver
On August 22, 1989, Vancouver’s Chinese community as well as other human rights activists united at Robson Square to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre with an art exhibition. The exhibition was created from different media sources like videos, images news clippings and also included discussions for a replica of the Beijing students, ‘Goddess of Democracy'Goddess of Democracy
The Goddess of Democracy , and the Goddess of Liberty , was a 10-meter-tall statue created during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.The statue was constructed in only four days out of foam and papier-mâché over a metal armature...
.
After the exhibition, the community debated on an appropriate space for a replica statue. Members of Vancouver’s Society in Support of Democratic Movement believed a replica of the ‘Goddess of Democracy’ should be placed in Vancouver’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first full-size Chinese or "scholars" garden built outside of China, and is located in Chinatown in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located at 578 Carrall Street and consists of a freely accessible public park and a garden with an...
(the garden is dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen a nationalist leader considered to be the father of modern China). However, the garden’s boards of trustees did not want the statue, because the garden was not a political forum. Others speculate that the trustees did not want the statue because the Chinese Communist Party donated more than $500, 000 to the building of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. The ‘Goddess of Democracy’ debate continued on August 26, 1989. Gim Huey, chairman of Vancouver’s Chinese Benevolent Association, pleaded that the statue must be in Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, stating that it was “not political” but was “promoting freedom and democracy". Gim Huey believed “Dr. Sun Yat-Sen stood for freedom and that’s the whole spirit of the Garden”. After failed talks with the Vancouver Park Board the proposed replica statue had no home. Finally, after much lobbying, the Vancouver Society in Support for the Democracy Movement was optimistic when talks began with the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Reportedly, “the society approached UBC through a campus organizations of Chinese students and scholars and got a warm welcome”. These plans followed through as the ‘Goddess of Democracy’ statues reside at the University of British Columbia today.
Split Over National Day in Vancouver
China’s National Day, celebrated on October 1, further stirred up feelings over the Tiananmen Square Massacre. National day celebrates the finding of the Peoples Republic of China. In Vancouver the Chinese community was divided on how to celebrate National Day. Two separate events were planned. Supporters for democracy in China proposed a 24-hour fast along with a reenactment of the Beijing students’ tent camps. The Chinese Cultural Center and Chinese Benevolent Association proposed that regular National Day events like lion dancing and dinner should take place . Bill Chu from the Canadian Christians for Democratic Movement in China claimed that, decisions to continue regular National Day celebrations were another Chinese government cover-up and said that telephone polls showed that “71.6% of Vancouver’s Chinese community opposed celebrations”. Tommy Toa, former director of the Chinese Benevolent Association stated, “To celebrate national day without condemnation of the current Chinese government is hypocritical […] I believe if we celebrate anything we should celebrate the courage and determination of the Chinese people seeking democracy”. In reaction to the pro-democracy stance, the director of the Chinese Cultural Center Dr. K.T Yue said because Canada still recognized the Chinese government, “we go along with the government”, even though he sympathized with the democracy movement.On October 1, 1989 the National Day events unfolded with two clear stances. A protest of more than 500 pro-democracy supporters, was held outside the Main street Skytrain station in Vancouver, against the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Chan Kwok-Kin criticized those who attended the regular National Day celebrations stating, “I think those who are feasting are doing so for personal gain”. Others like the Chinese Benevolent Association’s president Bill Yee defended their National Day celebration, arguing that it was rooted in a 30-year-old tradition.