Overseas Protesters Rally Outside Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on the 10th Anniversary of the “709 Crackdown”
2025年7月9日 旧金山 现场报道：胡丽莉
编辑：罗志飞 责任编辑：鲁慧文
2025年7月9日下午两点，数十位关注中国人权状况的民众齐聚中共驻旧金山总领事馆前，举行抗议集会，纪念“709大抓捕”十周年，声讨中共当局对维权律师及公民社会的持续打压。此次活动由著名民运人士方政与郑云共同发起，吸引了来自湾区及洛杉矶等地的众多参与者。
摄影 郝剑平
集会伊始，方政率先发言。他在讲话中回顾了2015年7月9日爆发的震惊中外的“709大抓捕”事件：300余名中国律师、公民遭到突袭、抓捕、强迫失踪、酷刑与长期监禁。他特别提到李和平、周世锋、胡适根、于文生等人及家属的遭遇，称“他们中国人的脊梁”。他呼吁国际社会继续关注这些良心人士的处境，并向中共发出严正控诉：“清算共产党 审判习近平！”
随后，多位与会者自发登台发言。数位来自民主党的党员也到场支持，表达对中国人权律师的声援。他们指出，中国的人权状况在过去十年持续恶化，709大抓捕是中共镇压民间法治力量的转折点，也是中国全面走向极权的重要信号。
“在中国，真正践行法律的人，被这个政权视为敌人。他们把律师当敌人，我们就和律师一起，成为他们更强大的敌人。” 一位发言者这样表示。集会现场高举“释放政治犯 还我良心人士”“向中国人权律师和人权活动者致敬！”“清算共产党”等标语，呼声响亮，秩序井然。
摄影 胡丽莉
来自民主党的周志刚发言说：“十年前的今天，中共大肆抓捕那些敢说真话、敢为老百姓维权的人权律师。他们不是罪犯，他们是在用法律保护别人，却被反过来打压、关押、酷刑，连家人都受牵连。这不是法治，这是打压，这是赤裸裸的独裁暴政！我们今天站出来，不是沉默的纪念，而是响亮的抗议。我们不会忘记，不会退让。只要还有一个人敢发声，正义就不会被掩埋。自由终将属于人民！”
活动最后，组织者向在中国因坚守良知而身陷囹圄的律师群体致以敬意，并呼吁各界继续施压中共当局，释放所有被关押的维权人士，结束一党专政，建立一个真正尊重人权、保障法律独立的民主中国。
本次活动在和平、有力的气氛中圆满结束。
Overseas Protesters Rally Outside Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on the 10th Anniversary of the “709 Crackdown”
San Francisco, July 9, 2025 — On-Site Report by Hu Lili
Edited by Luo Zhifei | Chief Editor: Lu Huiwen
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At 2:00 p.m. on July 9, 2025, dozens of human rights supporters gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to hold a protest rally marking the 10th anniversary of the “709 Crackdown”—a mass arrest operation by the Chinese government targeting human rights lawyers and civil society. The event, co-organized by prominent pro-democracy activists Fang Zheng and Zheng Yun, drew participants from across the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Photo by Hao Jianping
The rally began with remarks from Fang Zheng, who recalled the events of July 9, 2015, when over 300 lawyers and citizens in China were subjected to raids, detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and long-term imprisonment. He specifically mentioned the cases of Li Heping, Zhou Shifeng, Hu Shigen, and Yu Wensheng, as well as the hardships faced by their families, calling them “the backbone of the Chinese people.” He urged the international community to continue standing in solidarity with these prisoners of conscience and issued a direct condemnation of the regime:
“Hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable—Put Xi Jinping on trial!”
Multiple attendees then took to the stage to speak. Several members of the China Democracy Party were present to express their support and solidarity with China’s persecuted human rights lawyers. They emphasized that the human rights situation in China has deteriorated steadily over the past decade, with the 709 crackdown marking a critical turning point in the regime’s full descent into authoritarianism.
“In China, those who truly uphold the law are seen as enemies of the regime. They treat lawyers as enemies—so we will stand with the lawyers and become even stronger enemies to tyranny.”
— stated one speaker.
Protesters held signs reading:
“Free All Political Prisoners – Bring Back Our Conscience!”
“Salute to China’s Human Rights Lawyers and Activists!”
“Hold the CCP Accountable!”
Their chants were powerful, their presence orderly and determined.
Photo by Hu Lili
Zhou Zhigang, a member of the China Democracy Party, spoke passionately:
“On this day ten years ago, the CCP launched a mass arrest of brave human rights lawyers—those who dared to speak the truth and defend ordinary people. These are not criminals—they were using the law to protect others, yet they were brutally punished, imprisoned, tortured, and even their families suffered. This is not rule of law—it is repression. It is raw dictatorship.
Today we gather not for a silent remembrance, but for a resounding protest.
We will not forget. We will not back down.
As long as even one person dares to speak out, justice will not be buried.
Freedom will belong to the people!”
At the conclusion of the event, organizers paid tribute to lawyers in China who remain imprisoned for their conscience and called on the international community to continue pressuring the Chinese Communist Party to release all detained human rights defenders, end one-party rule, and establish a democratic China that respects human rights and guarantees judicial independence.
The protest ended peacefully and powerfully, echoing with the voices of resistance and solidarity.
