Recently, banners of the Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) have appeared in Hongqiao District, Tianjin City. Tianjin residents have welcomed the HRTR and hoped that the HRTR would bring a brighter future, better human rights, and more democracy to China.
A resident in Tianjin who wishes to remain anonymous said that the Beijing Olympics has not brought any benefit to the people. Instead, it brought disaster. The resident believes the Chinese Communist Party has looted the common people and threatened their very survival. They welcome the Human Rights Torch Relay to Tianjin.
He said, “We live in deep suffering. This government is robbing its people. We are angry but don’t dare say anything. Everywhere I look, it’s all darkness. The Olympics has only brought us disaster.”
Another Tianjin resident said that the local government has demolished houses with reckless disregard and suppressed those who tried appeal. The people are seeking freedom and human rights.
He said, “I have been trying to sue the government for 10 years; ever since my house was demolished. I am still homeless. All I want is human rights. My human rights have been trampled on. I don’t even have money to see a doctor when I am sick. I have no one to turn to in order to borrow money. I can’t even feed my family.
We are just living day by day now. I don’t want to think about what tomorrow will bring.”
A Muslim from Tianjin said that the CCP’s religious persecution has enraged many. The persecution against the Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners must be stopped. People’s lives are even worse now because of rampant inflation. He supports the Human Rights Torch Relay.
He said, “You can say our lives are truly hard. Some people have stepped forward to carry out the Human Rights Torch Relay. I think this is great.”
The Human Rights Torch Relay reached mainland China at the end of March. It’s been seen in Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Hunan, Heilongjiang, Hebei, and Guizhou provinces. Due to safety concerns, most of the Relay participants have used flyers, multiple media broadcasts, or emblematic yellow ribbons to spread the message.
