作者：关永杰
2026年5月31日，来自中国民主人权联盟、中国民主党及当地民主人士等十余人，在美国加州圣荷西市政厅前举行集会，声援中国异议人士董广平，并恳请加拿大政府尽快给予其政治庇护身份，使其能够与已定居加拿大的家人团聚。
活动由中国民主人权联盟北加州负责人李海风等人发起。李海风在开场发言中介绍了董广平的经历，并表示此次活动虽在美国举行，但声援不受地域限制，只要发出声音，世界各地都能听见。
据介绍，董广平出生于1958年，河南郑州人，曾担任警察。1999年因公开声援“六四”而被开除公职。此后，他长期参与民主维权活动，多次因政治原因遭到拘押和判刑。2001年因参与民主活动被判刑三年；2014年参加纪念“六四”活动后再次遭到关押。董广平在出狱后并未停止追求民主与自由，而是持续进行抗争。2015年，他携家人离开中国前往泰国，当时加拿大已同意向其提供庇护，但在中共当局施压下，泰国警方将其遣返回中国，其家人则先行抵达加拿大。此后多年间，董广平不断尝试离开中国，与家人团聚。他曾尝试游泳前往台湾金门，也曾经由越南出逃，但均遭挫折并再次被遣返。今年5月25日，68岁的董广平驾驶皮划艇从山东烟台出发，横渡黄海抵达韩国，再次引发国际社会关注。李海风表示，数百公里的海上航程充满危险，对于一位年近七旬的老人而言，需要极大的勇气和决心。他认为，支撑董广平一次次逃离中国的，是对自由的向往以及与家人团聚的强烈愿望。
李海风还透露，据维权人士盛雪传来的消息，加拿大方面已经传出积极信号，董广平获得庇护身份“应当没有问题”，但最终官方文件尚未公布。因此，集会参与者仍希望通过公开声援，向加拿大政府表达支持，也让远在韩国的董广平及其在加拿大的家人感受到来自海外民众的关心与支持。
活动期间，中国民主党人士马相平带来了自己亲笔书写的声援标语，并发表感言说：“自由对于许多人来说是与生俱来的，而对他来说却需要拼尽全力，甚至要用生命去争取。68岁的他独自驾驶一艘小小的皮划艇，从中国海岸出发，穿越茫茫黄海，在惊涛骇浪与黑夜之中漂泊了三十多个小时，没有护航，没有退路，只有一个坚定的方向，因为在海的那一边有他向往已久的自由世界。当一个人宁愿把生命交给大海，也不愿意继续留在中共这个牢笼之中，这趟远航便不再是一次简单的逃离，而是一场关于勇气、信念和尊严的抗争。有人跨越山河去寻找财富，有人跨越国境去追寻梦想，而他跨越生死只为投奔自由。这一段真实的人生传奇，一次用生命完成的远航，世界上最遥远的距离不是海的彼岸，而是从恐惧走向自由。”
多位与会者随后发言，对董广平长期坚持民主抗争、追求自由的精神表达敬意。
中国民主党成员惠汝涛回顾了董广平数十年来的维权历程。他表示，董广平出身于官员家庭，曾经当过兵和警察，但最终选择站在良知与正义一边。无论是因纪念“六四”而遭受迫害，还是后来多次尝试逃离中国，都体现出他对民主、法治和人权理念的坚定坚持。
活动发起人之一张勇则指出，董广平原本属于体制内人士，家庭条件优越，可以说是共产党体制中的既得利益者。然而，他在认清中共本质后，选择站到人民一边，为民主自由持续抗争，最终失去了工作、家庭团聚和国内的一切根基，却始终没有放弃自己的信念。他认为，这种精神尤其令人敬佩。
陈伟文、杨坤等与会者则从个人感受出发，表达了对董广平勇气的钦佩。陈伟文回顾自己当年在国内开始“网络翻墙”时那突然之间的信念崩塌，夹杂着惊讶、恐惧与绝望，但从未有董先生这样的勇气，董先生多次冒死出逃，这次同样是冒着生命危险横渡一望无边的黄海，说明其对中共政府现状已经彻底绝望，也体现出对自由的强烈渴望。杨坤还分享了自己疫情期间骑自行车从上海返回河南与家人团聚的经历，认为董广平为追求自由和与家人团聚所付出的代价远超常人想象。
何冬玲表示，无论政治立场如何，人们都应尊重每个人追求自由、尊严和表达权利的基本权利。她呼吁相关政府部门本着人道主义原则，公平、公正地审理董广平的庇护申请。
张辉、杨宗阔、盛虎等发言者则认为，董广平事件不仅是个人遭遇，更反映了中国异议人士长期面临的政治压力和人权困境。他们表示，越来越多的人“用脚投票”，试图离开中国，反映出中共专制统治所带来的深层问题。董广平作为曾经的警察和体制内人士，仍然坚持公开纪念“六四”、表达政治观点，并因此长期遭受打压，其经历具有象征意义。
发言者们普遍表示，希望韩国政府能够保障董广平的人身安全，不将其遣返回中国，并期待他能够尽快前往加拿大，与家人团聚。
活动结束前，李海风再次重申了当天集会的主题——“恳请加拿大政府给予董广平政治庇护身份”。他感谢所有参与者到场发声，并表示每一次公开表达都将成为历史记录的一部分。与会者随后在圣荷西市政厅前合影留念，为此次声援活动画上句号。
编辑：钟然
校对：孔祥庆
翻译：戈冰
San Jose Rally Calls on Canada to Grant Asylum to Dong Guangping
By Guan Yongjie
Abstract: On May 31, 2026, democracy activists in the Bay Area held a rally in San Jose to voice their support for Dong Guangping. They called upon the Canadian government to grant him political asylum as soon as possible, safeguard his security, and facilitate an early reunion with his family, who have already settled in Canada.
On May 31, 2026, more than ten individuals from the China Coalition for Democracy and Human Rights, the China Democracy Party, and local democratic circles held a rally in front of City Hall in San Jose, California, USA. The gathering was organized to voice support for the Chinese dissident Dong Guangping and to earnestly request the Canadian government to grant him political asylum status as soon as possible, enabling him to reunite with his family who have already settled in Canada.
The event was initiated by figures including Li Haifeng, the head of the Northern California branch of the China Coalition for Democracy and Human Rights. In his opening remarks, Li Haifeng introduced Dong Guangping’s background and stated that although this event was being held in the United States, solidarity knows no geographical boundaries; as long as a voice is raised, it can be heard across the world.
According to reports, Dong Guangping was born in 1958 and is a native of Zhengzhou, Henan Province. He formerly served as a police officer. In 1999, he was dismissed from his public office for publicly voicing support for “June Fourth.” Since then, he has long participated in democratic and rights-defense activities, and has been detained and sentenced multiple times for political reasons. In 2001, he was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in democratic activities; in 2014, he was detained again after participating in an event commemorating “June Fourth.”
Following his release from prison, Dong Guangping did not cease his pursuit of democracy and freedom, but instead continued his resistance. In 2015, he left China with his family and traveled to Thailand. At that time, Canada had already agreed to grant him asylum; however, under pressure from the Chinese Communist authorities, the Thai police forcibly repatriated him to China, while his family members managed to arrive in Canada ahead of him.
In the years that followed, Dong Guangping made continuous attempts to leave China and reunite with his family. He once attempted to swim to Kinmen, Taiwan, and had also escaped via Vietnam, but both efforts met with setbacks and resulted in him being repatriated once again. On May 25 of this year, the 68-year-old Dong Guangping departed from Yantai, Shandong Province, in a kayak and crossed the Yellow Sea to arrive in South Korea, once again drawing the attention of the international community.
Li Haifeng stated that the sea voyage spanning hundreds of kilometers was fraught with danger, and for an elderly man nearing the age of seventy, it required immense courage and determination. He believes that what sustained Dong Guangping through his repeated escapes from China was his yearning for freedom and his profound desire to be reunited with his family.
Li Haifeng also revealed that according to information conveyed by rights activist Sheng Xue, positive signals have already emerged from the Canadian side, and it “should not be a problem” for Dong Guangping to secure asylum status, though the final official documentation has not yet been publicly released. Consequently, the participants of the rally still hope, through their public show of solidarity, to express their support to the Canadian government, and to ensure that Dong Guangping far away in South Korea, along with his family in Canada, can feel the care and support coming from the overseas public.
During the event, Ma Xiangping, a member of the China Democracy Party, brought a solidarity banner written in his own handwriting and shared his reflections, saying: “For many people, freedom is an inherent birthright, but for him, it requires exerting every ounce of his strength, and even risking his life to strive for it. At 68 years old, he steered a tiny kayak all by himself, departing from the Chinese coast and crossing the vast Yellow Sea. He drifted for over thirty hours amidst turbulent waves and the dark of night—with no escort, and no path of retreat, guided only by one steadfast direction, because on the other side of the ocean lies the free world he has yearned for so long. When a person would rather entrust his life to the sea than continue to remain inside the cage of the CCP, this long voyage is no longer a simple escape, but a struggle defined by courage, conviction, and dignity. Some cross mountains and rivers in search of wealth, some cross national borders to pursue dreams, but he crossed life and death just to seek freedom. This is a true living legend, a long voyage fulfilled at the risk of one’s life; the furthest distance in the world is not the opposite shore of an ocean, but the journey from fear toward freedom.”
Multiple attendees spoke subsequently, expressing their profound respect for Dong Guangping’s long-standing perseverance in the democratic struggle and his spirit in the pursuit of freedom.
Hui Rutao, a member of the China Democracy Party, reviewed Dong Guangping’s decades-long journey of defending human rights. He stated that Dong Guangping came from a family of officials and had previously served in the military and as a police officer, yet he ultimately chose to stand on the side of conscience and justice. Whether through suffering persecution for commemorating “June Fourth,” or through his multiple subsequent attempts to escape China, his actions consistently reflect his steadfast commitment to the ideals of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
Zhang Yong, one of the initiators of the event, pointed out that Dong Guangping was originally an individual “inside the system” who enjoyed excellent family conditions and could be considered a vested interest beneficiary within the Communist Party apparatus. However, after recognizing the true nature of the CCP, he chose to align himself with the people and engage in a continuous struggle for democracy and freedom. Consequently, he lost his job, his family reunion, and all of his foundations within China, yet he never once abandoned his convictions. Zhang Yong emphasized that this spirit is particularly admirable.
Attendees such as Chen Weiwen and Yang Kun shared their personal perspectives to express their admiration for Dong Guangping’s courage. Chen Weiwen recalled the sudden collapse of his own beliefs when he first began “flipping the wall” on the internet while in China—a moment compounded by astonishment, fear, and despair. Yet, he noted that he never possessed the kind of courage shown by Mr. Dong. Mr. Dong has risked his life to flee multiple times, and this latest endeavor of braving mortal peril to cross the boundless Yellow Sea demonstrates that he has reached a state of absolute despair regarding the current reality of the CCP government, while simultaneously reflecting his intense thirst for freedom. Yang Kun also shared his own experience of riding a bicycle from Shanghai back to Henan during the pandemic lockdown to reunite with his family, noting that the price Dong Guangping paid in his pursuit of freedom and family reunion far exceeds what ordinary people can comprehend.
He Dongling stated that regardless of political stance, people should respect every individual’s fundamental rights to pursue freedom, dignity, and the right to expression. She called upon the relevant government departments to review Dong Guangping’s asylum application in a fair and just manner, in accordance with humanitarian principles.
Speakers such as Zhang Hui, Yang Zongkuo, and Sheng Hu expressed the view that the Dong Guangping incident is not merely an individual ordeal, but rather reflects the long-standing political pressure and human rights plight faced by Chinese dissidents. They stated that an increasing number of people are “voting with their feet” in attempts to leave China, which reflects the deep-seated problems brought about by the CCP’s authoritarian rule. As a former police officer and an individual who was once “inside the system,” Dong Guangping nevertheless persisted in publicly commemorating “June Fourth” and expressing his political views, consequently enduring long-term suppression; thus, his experience carries profound symbolic significance.
The speakers generally expressed their hope that the South Korean government will safeguard Dong Guangping’s personal safety, refrain from repatriating him to China, and anticipated that he will be able to travel to Canada as soon as possible to reunite with his family.
Before the conclusion of the event, Li Haifeng reiterated once again the core theme of the day’s rally—”earnestly requesting the Canadian government to grant Dong Guangping political asylum status.” He thanked all participants for coming forward to raise their voices, stating that every instance of public expression will become a part of the historical record. The attendees subsequently gathered in front of San Jose City Hall for a group commemorative photo, bringing the solidarity event to a close.
Edited by Zhong Ran | Proofread by Kong Xiangqing | Translated by Ge Bing
