Thousands Gather in Toronto to Mark 37th Anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre

TORONTO, Canada — As the melody of the classic pro-democracy song “For Freedom” echoed across Mel Lastman Square in Toronto’s North York on May 30, more than 1,000 people joined in song to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre that took place in Beijing, China.

The annual gathering brought together veteran democracy activists, Hong Kong advocates, former eyewitnesses, and younger Chinese immigrants who said they only learned the truth about June 4 after leaving China. Together, they delivered a common message: Remembrance is resistance, and the struggle for freedom continues.

On June 4, 1989, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) deployed troops and tanks to crush a nationwide pro-democracy movement led largely by students. Though publicly-available information is scarce, the military assault ended weeks of peaceful demonstrations centered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and resulted in the deaths of hundreds, and according to some estimates, thousands of civilians. On May 30, 2026, more than 1,000 people in Toronto, Canada joined in song to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre that took place in Beijing, China. (Image: Vision Times Staff)

On June 4, 1989, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) deployed troops and tanks to crush a nationwide pro-democracy movement led largely by students. Though publicly-available information is scarce, the military assault ended weeks of peaceful demonstrations centered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and resulted in the deaths of hundreds, and according to some estimates, thousands of civilians.

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Among those attending were 1989 student leader and China Human Rights Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo, global vice president of the Federation for a Democratic China Sheng Xue, representatives of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, members of the Chinese Democracy Party of Canada, and activists from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

‘Remembrance is resistance’

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Toronto Association for Democracy in China co-chair Wu Wen-Wen told Vision Times that remembering June 4 should never be considered subversion.

She criticized the Hong Kong government’s crackdown on commemorations and called on Chinese and Hong Kong communities to continue speaking out despite growing pressure. “We hope that one day we can hold the largest June 4 memorial gathering in Tiananmen Square itself,” she said.

The event featured a recording from imprisoned Hong Kong activist Chow Hang-tung, who encouraged supporters to continue advocating for freedom and civil rights. A message from Tiananmen Mothers member Zhang Xianling was also played, urging the public to “tell the truth, refuse to forget, seek justice, and call upon conscience.”

For Zhou Fengsuo, one of the most prominent surviving leaders of the 1989 student movement, preserving historical memory remains essential. “Memory itself is a weapon against tyranny,” Zhou has repeatedly argued in public appearances. “What the Chinese Communist Party fears most is the revival of truth among younger generations.”

He added that every overseas candlelight vigil and every young person who learns the truth about Tiananmen represents a crack in the wall of censorship built by Beijing.

From Tiananmen to today

Democracy activist Sheng Xue, who witnessed the military crackdown firsthand on Chang’an Avenue on June 3-4 in Beijing, said the massacre remains one of the defining tragedies of modern Chinese history.

Speaking with Vision Times, Sheng argued that commemorations should not simply mourn victims but confront the political system responsible for the violence. “The CCP’s influence, infiltration, and transnational repression have already reached democratic countries around the world,” she said. “The world must recognize that this authoritarian regime remains one of the greatest threats to freedom and human dignity.”

Many younger attendees said they grew up knowing almost nothing about Tiananmen because the topic had been erased from China’s education system and internet.

Liu Haiyang, a member of the Chinese Democracy Party of Canada, recalled discovering the truth only after moving abroad. “When I first saw footage of soldiers firing on students and tanks entering Tiananmen Square, I was shocked,” he said. “It was dark and brutal.”

Another attendee, Liu Chong, said she left China after her son faced pressure in school for resisting political indoctrination. After arriving in Canada and watching documentaries about June 4, she said she realized the significance of the massacre. “The students in 1989 were about the same age our children are today,” she said. “If we don’t wake up and resist, future generations could face the same tragedy.”

Former Beijing resident Li Taiguo, who heard gunfire and witnessed tanks entering the city in 1989, said the memories remain vivid. “I heard the shots. The tanks entered Beijing and Tiananmen,” he recalled. “It was heartbreaking.”

Hong Kong’s legacy of remembrance

Several speakers emphasized the historic role Hong Kong played in preserving the memory of June 4. Dino Chan, a Hong Kong activist now living in Canada, noted that for decades Hong Kong served as a major center for Chinese democracy activism.

Though public Tiananmen commemorations have been effectively banned in Hong Kong since the implementation of the National Security Law, he said Hong Kong communities overseas continue to carry that legacy forward. “We still support democracy and freedom for the Chinese people wherever we are,” Chan said.

Former PLA Daily journalist Jiang Lin, who witnessed the events of 1989, also attended the gathering. “So many people in China still don’t know the truth,” she said. “The history has been erased from textbooks and from the internet.” Yet she remains hopeful. “As long as we can still speak and remember, we must continue telling the truth,” she added.

As the evening concluded with another rendition of “For Freedom,” participants reflected on a struggle that now spans generations. For many in attendance, the anniversary was not only about remembering the past but ensuring that the truth survives into the future.