After last month's national security law from Beijing, pro-democracy lawmakers fear the anthem bill is a further encroachment by the mainland.
On the eve of the Tiananmen anniversary, democratically ruled Taiwan called on China to apologize for the bloody 1989 crackdown and begin democratic political reform. The call was dismissed as"nonsense" by China's foreign ministry.
In Hong Kong, too, where public commemorations normally go ahead each year, for the first time, vigils will take place online — due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials say — although more than one thousand people still gathered at the city's central Victoria Park., a pro-democracy advocacy group formed in 1989, has organized a virtual candlelight vigil. The group said it would also stream a program of events online, including a minute's silence and slogan chanting.
"With the national security law we will still continue to have the vigil. ... There may be personal risk but we do not want to live in fear. We will still continue."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Without justice, there is no peace': Tiananmen memories spark resistance in Hong KongHong Kong authorities have banned the annual Tiananmen Square massacre commemoration this year. But some are determined to remember — and resist.
Read more »
Hong Kong marks Tiananmen massacre for what many fear will be the last timeFor years, a candlelit rally in Hong Kong has taken place as the only mass memorial of the Tiananmen massacre held on Chinese soil and a key emblem of the semi-autonomous city's political freedoms. Every year, that is, until this year.
Read more »
On Tiananmen anniversary, Hong Kong bans insults to anthemBREAKING: Hong Kong’s legislature has passed a contentious bill that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem. The legislation was approved over the opposition of pro-democracy lawmakers.
Read more »