(From Vancouver) This year marks the 36th Anniversary of the tragic crime of June 4th. The Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (VSSDM) hosted a “Democracy Walk” as a prelude to this year’s “June 4th” commemorative activities. VSSDM President Edmund Leung stresses that we are walking for freedom and democracy, for all the prisoners of conscience incarcerated in Hong Kong and China, as well as for Canada’s democracy and freedom.

About 200 participants joined in the “Democracy Walk”. Participants gathered on Granville Street and 5th Avenue’s Loop Park, set out at around 2:30 p.m., with police escort, and headed south toward the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China on Granville and 16th Avenue, where public statements were made.

VSSDM President Edmund Leung was first to speak. He said, “This walk for democracy is for the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China’s Chow Hang-Tung, Lee Cheuk-Yan, Ho Chun-Yun, Jimmy Lai, and the countless prisoners of conscience in Hong Kong and China. We are doing this for the students, journalists, human rights activists, as well as ordinary citizens, who are incarcerated, whose sole crime was to battle for freedom. As they are imprisoned, we are continuing their fight; as they have been silenced, we are speaking for them; they have been threatened, but we are not afraid. They have lost their freedom, and their voice, and we are therefore their voice. They have been cruelly persecuted, but we are not frightened; we will continue their fight.”

He continued to stress, “Today, we are walking also for Canada’s democracy. The long arm of China has reached across the ocean and is interfering with our internal affairs, this is a reminder for all of us, to cherish and to protect Canada’s democracy.”

Before the end of the gathering, VSSDM President introduced the activities to follow, including presentation of flowers to the Goddess of Democracy on June 1st (Sunday), which will take place at 10:00 a.m. in Burnaby’s Forest Lawn, and at 12:30 p.m. at the campus of the University of British Columbia.

At 7:00 p.m. on June 4th, which will be a Wednesday evening, there will be a candlelight vigil at downtown’s David Lam Park. On June 5th, there will be a public forum, with Giggs and Alex Chow being the main speakers. Everyone is welcome.

May 25, 2025 Omni TV news about the Democracy Walk ( Cantonese)