Thursday, May 13, 1999
1999 marks the tenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in China. What happened in Beijing on June 4, 1989 is not an isolated incident. The 20th century has witnessed horrific human rights violations: the Holocaust, apartheid in South Africa, ethnic cleansing in Rwanda and Kosovo.
To bring Toronto's attention to human rights violations that are happening daily around the world, more than twenty organizations will come together on Friday, May 28 to erect a Human Rights City at Metro Square (Wellington and John streets) in downtown Toronto. They will set up tents to re-enact Tiananmen Square. Displays and information booths will highlight the many human rights issues facing the world today.
At a noontime opening ceremony, Wang Dan, former leader of the Tiananmen Square student protests, will speak to Torontonians about the urgency for all us to defend human rights around the world. Wang will be joined by Professor John Polanyi, University of Toronto Nobel laureate, as well as representatives from Amnesty International, B'Nai Brith Canada and other leading human rights organizations.
Activities at Metro Square will continue with an afternoon music interlude, to be followed by the Concert for Human Rights at 8 p.m. The evening concert will feature Suk Yin Lee, Twisted Sonic, My Brilliant Beast, Radiant and other prominent Toronto bands. Guest speakers will include three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Wei Jingsheng, TV journalist Peter Kent, and City Councilors Jack Layton and Olivia Chow.
Human Rights City is co-sponsored by Amnesty International, B'Nai Brith Canada, Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Canadian Labour Congress, PEN Canada, Toronto Association for Democracy in China and the United Nations Association in Canada.
For more information, contact Ricky Sin at (416) 596-0833 or Cheuk Kwan at (416) 804-1527.
To sign a cyber-petition to remember June 4, click here.
SCHEDULE
Toronto Association for Democracy in China
Tenth Anniversary
June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre
ALL EVENTS FREE
Fri May 28 Human Rights City at Metro Square (Wellington and John Streets) Co-sponsored by Amnesty International, B Nai Brith Canada, Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Canadian Labour Congress, PEN Canada and the United Nations Association in Canada. Noon Opening Ceremony
Speakers: Wang Dan, John Polanyi, Roger Clark (Amnesty), Mike Conlon (CFS)
4:30 p.m. Afternoon Music Interlude
8:00 p.m. Concert for Human Rights
Featuring: Suk Yin Lee, Twisted Sonic, My Brilliant Beast, Radiant
Speakers: Wei Jingsheng, Peter Kent, Jack Layton, Olivia Chow
Fri June 4 Tenth Anniversary Memorial
6:30 p.m. Moments of Truth: Eyewitness Accounts
Koeffler Auditorium, 6 Bancroft Avenue, University of Toronto
Speakers: Tim Brook (Stanford University), Jan Wong (Globe and Mail), Jim Munson (CTV)
Co-sponsored by University of Toronto/York University Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies
8:30 p.m. Candlelight Vigil
Hart House Circle, University of Toronto
Sat June 5 Tenth Anniversary March
2:00 p.m. Memorial Service and Commemorative March
Grange Park (Dundas and Beverly streets) to Chinese Consulate (St. George Street)
Information Hotline: (416) 804-1527
Related Links:
# Global Petition Campaign for the 10th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square at http://www.june4.org
# Hong Kong Voice of Democracy at http://www.democracy.org.hk
# "Song of Tiananmen Square" at http://homepage.tinet.ie/~drice
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