This year we are honored to welcome Chen Guangcheng to speak during the vigil. For more than 25 years, Chen Guangcheng has exposed the reality of human rights in China. Born in China during the country's violent Cultural Revolution, Chen went blind before his first birthday which made him a member of one of China's most discriminated-against groups: the disabled. He taught himself law and started advocating for equitable treatment of China's disabled population. Chen's activism expanded to land rights, corruption, and China's one-child policy, leading to a four year prison sentence in 2006. In a bold move in 2012, Chen made a daring escape to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing where he sought asylum. Amnesty International deemed him a prisoner of conscience and he was recognized as one of TIME's 100 most influential people in the world. Other speakers include: Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer, Office of Tibet Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation Elfidar Iltebir, President, Uyghur American Association Anna Kwok, Executive Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council Eric Patterson, Ph.D., President and CEO, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Piero Tozzi, Staff Director, Congressional Executive Committee on China Spencer Wolf, Stand with Hong Kong David Yu, Executive Director, June 4th Massacre Memorial Association | |
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