呼吁反思集权、坚守自由
Commemorating the 8th Anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s Death｜Chinese Community in Irvine Holds Forum
Calls for Reflection on Authoritarianism and Commitment to Freedom
作者：赵雪峰、袁峰 2025年7月13日
编辑：何清风 责任编辑：罗志飞 鲁慧文 翻译：鲁慧文
2025年7月13日，适逢诺贝尔和平奖得主刘晓波逝世八周年，由中国民主党、中国民主教育基金会、洛杉矶中国民主平台联合主办的主题座谈会——《在独裁阴影下，我们如何继续自由之路》，在南加州尔湾隆重举行。此次活动通过线上和线下同步方式进行，吸引了众多关注中国民主进程的华人参与。
本次座谈会由召集人赵雪峰主持，他在开场中简要回顾了刘晓波生前的奋斗历程与为中国民主事业所作出的巨大牺牲，强调“刘晓波不仅是一位学者、作家，更是以身践行良知的行动者，以生命诠释民主自由的先行者”。
随后，李金杉现场诵读《零八宪章》精选段落，向这份象征中国宪政愿景的重要文献致敬。全体与会者起立默哀一分钟，缅怀这位用生命捍卫言论自由与人权尊严的良知者。
座谈会现场气氛庄严而感人。三位“八九六四”亲历者——方政、王应国、林岳明亲临座谈会并发言，回顾了当年血与火的历史片段，并分享了与刘晓波交往中的点滴记忆，令在场人士动容。他们一致表示，正是那段历史与刘晓波的身影，点燃了他们至今未息的民主理想。
发言摘录：
袁平：“《零八宪章》是一份和平理性追求宪政民主的中国宣言，它让我们明白，自由从不是权力的施舍，而是人民与生俱来的权利。”
林嘉杰：“刘晓波以非暴力抗争、独立思想启发了一代人。他在高墙铁网中仍不改其志，体现出道义与信念的崇高力量。”
袁峰：“在言论管控日益严厉、海外渗透日趋激进的现实中，刘晓波早年的警示正逐一应验。政权可以囚禁身体，却无法囚禁思想。”
鲜文君：“纪念不仅是缅怀，更是传承。悼念良知者，是在燃起新的火种。发声，就是为了不让历史沉默。”
会议历时两个半小时，与会者围绕“如何在当下极权压力下，坚持个人良知与公共发声”展开深入探讨。李贤兵、李茂屹、李建勋、李宁、吴弘斌、张俊杰、黄丽等人也分别发表感言，表达对中国自由前景的思考。会议最后，主办方呼吁全球华人继续坚守自由、人权、法治等普世价值，在极权阴影之下不屈不挠，传承刘晓波精神，照亮民族前行之路。
Commemorating the 8th Anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s Death｜Chinese Community in Irvine Holds Forum
Calls for Reflection on Authoritarianism and Commitment to Freedom
By: Zhao Xuefeng, Yuan Feng Date: July 13, 2025
Editor: He Qingfeng Chief Editors: Luo Zhifei, Lu Huiwen Translation: Lu Huiwen
On July 13, 2025, marking the eighth anniversary of the death of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, a thematic forum titled “Under the Shadow of Dictatorship: How Do We Continue the Road to Freedom?” was held in Irvine, Southern California. The event was co-organized by the China Democracy Party, the Chinese Democracy Education Foundation, and the Los Angeles China Democracy Platform. Conducted both online and in person, the forum attracted many Chinese attendees concerned about the future of democracy in China.
The forum was hosted by convenor Zhao Xuefeng, who opened the event by briefly reviewing Liu Xiaobo’s lifelong struggle and the immense sacrifice he made for the cause of Chinese democracy. He emphasized, “Liu Xiaobo was not only a scholar and writer, but a practitioner of conscience — a pioneer who embodied the spirit of freedom and democracy with his life.”
Li Jinshan then read selected passages from Charter 08, paying tribute to this significant document that envisions constitutional democracy for China. All attendees stood for a one-minute moment of silence in remembrance of Liu Xiaobo, who defended freedom of speech and human dignity with his life.
The atmosphere at the forum was solemn and moving. Three eyewitnesses of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre — Fang Zheng, Wang Yingguo, and Lin Yueming — attended in person and gave speeches. They recalled the harrowing scenes of that historic moment and shared personal memories of their interactions with Liu Xiaobo, moving many in the audience. They unanimously stated that it was that history — and Liu Xiaobo’s figure within it — that ignited their enduring democratic aspirations.
Excerpts from Speeches:
• Yuan Ping: “Charter 08 is a peaceful and rational declaration in pursuit of constitutional democracy in China. It teaches us that freedom is never a gift from power — it is the people’s inherent right.”
• Lin Jiajie: “Liu Xiaobo’s nonviolent resistance and independent thought inspired a generation. Even behind bars, his resolve never wavered, demonstrating the noble force of moral conviction.”
• Yuan Feng: “In today’s reality — where speech is tightly controlled and overseas infiltration grows more aggressive — Liu Xiaobo’s early warnings are coming true one by one. The regime can imprison bodies, but it cannot imprison thought.”
• Xian Wenjun: “Commemoration is not only about mourning, but about inheritance. To honor a man of conscience is to rekindle the flame. Speaking out is how we keep history from going silent.”
The meeting lasted two and a half hours. Attendees engaged in deep discussion around the theme: “How to uphold personal conscience and public expression under the current authoritarian pressure.”
Li Xianbing, Li Maoyi, Li Jianxun, Li Ning, Wu Hongbin, Zhang Junjie, Huang Li, and others also delivered remarks, sharing their reflections on the prospects for freedom in China.
In conclusion, the organizers called on Chinese people worldwide to continue upholding universal values such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Under the shadow of authoritarianism, they urged unwavering resistance, the inheritance of Liu Xiaobo’s spirit, and using that light to guide the future of the Chinese nation.
