Pelosi Statement Urging Passage of Congressional Gold Medal Bill Honoring Liu Xiaobo

October 5, 2017

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement after the introduction of a bipartisan bill with Representative Chris Smith and other members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China that would posthumously award democracy champion Liu Xiaobo the Congressional Gold Medal:

"It is a deep honor to join Congressman Chris Smith in introducing this bill to award the U.S. Congress' highest civilian award to a great moral voice of our time, Liu Xiaobo. This Congressional Gold Medal would celebrate Liu's ‘long and visionary leadership' as a champion of democracy and human rights, and pay tribute to all who bravely stand up to Chinese repression and retribution.

"Seven years ago, as he languished in a jail cell, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his heroic defense of free speech and human rights. Despite the cruelty of his captivity, Liu projected hope. His Nobel Lecture in absentia declared that, ‘there is no force that can put an end to the human quest for freedom, and China will in the end become a nation ruled by law, where human rights reign supreme.'

"We urge the Congress to swiftly pass this bill, and to defend Liu Xiaobo's legacy by safeguarding the ‘human quest for freedom.' In Liu's name, we all must speak out in defense of the brave activists and advocates subjected to the Chinese regime's cruel and unjust treatment so that we can, together, usher in a future of greater respect for human dignity, freedom and democracy for all."