At 7:00 PM Atlantic Time on June 4, 2026, Ashlynn Peng, Atlantic Regional Coordinator of the Assembly of Citizens, held a Tiananmen Memorial vigil at Victoria Park in downtown Halifax and delivered a public speech in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the pursuit of democracy.
The event proceeded smoothly, with a number of participants from Chinese-speaking communities joining the commemoration and discussion.
As part of the event, Ashlynn displayed printed information about victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre collected and published by Human Rights in China (HRIC). She noted that, according to public records, even children as young as nine years old were among those killed during the crackdown. Some victims were reportedly subjected to humiliation after death, with their bodies publicly displayed and desecrated. Such acts represented a severe violation of human dignity and helped make the Tiananmen Massacre one of the darkest chapters in modern Chinese history.
Ashlynn also spoke about the continuing deterioration of human rights and freedom of expression in China under Xi Jinping’s rule. Increasing numbers of journalists, lawyers, dissidents, and human rights advocates have faced persecution for peacefully expressing their views. Many people have been questioned, threatened, or even detained by police simply for expressing opinions online.
Particularly concerning is the fact that this year Chinese authorities further restricted memorial activities by families of Tiananmen victims. This not only demonstrates a lack of respect for the deceased, but also represents a further suppression of historical memory. When interested passersby asked why Tiananmen is commemorated every year, Ashlynn shared these facts and explained the historical significance of the event.
We believe that as long as the Chinese Communist Party refuses to reassess the Tiananmen Massacre and continues to prohibit open public discussion of it, June 4th has never truly passed.
Ashlynn’s speech at the June 4th Mourning Event (translated to English)
