Pelosi Statement on 28th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre

"Twenty-eight years ago, Chinese students and workers rose up to defy an oppressive regime, denounce state corruption and demand freedom.  The bravery of the protestors who were brutally cut down by the military who should have been responsible for protecting them remains a rousing symbol for all who strive for greater liberties, human rights and democracy.

"Today, the Chinese government continues to deny the legacy of those courageous Chinese men and women.  Children learn of their story only in whispers told by parents – not from the pages of history books, where they belong.  We must use this anniversary to remember what happened and what is still happening, each day.  The Chinese government continues to jail journalists, human rights lawyers, those fighting to practice their own religion, booksellers and other human rights activists at a disturbing rate.  It is unconscionable that the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo is still behind bars.

"If we do not support human rights in China, then we lose all moral authority to speak about human rights anywhere in the world.  America must stand up for the dignity and worth of every person and speak out against the many human rights abuses that China continues to commit."