Statement on the 36th of the Tiananmen Massacre

"We mark today the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. We commemorate this day each year because of its enduring impact on U.S.-China relations and because there has been no justice for those who lost their lives seeking freedom and reform. We commemorate the tragedy of Tiananmen each year because it is an event too important to forget and too dangerous to commemorate in China and in Hong Kong. Despite the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to erase this date from history, we honor the courage and tenacity of those who bravely stood up in Tiananmen Square to demand their rights, and we solemnly stand with those still grieving lost loved ones. In their memory, we call for a just and open accounting of those killed and missing in the Tiananmen massacre.  

The events of 36 years ago remind us again that the fundamental human yearning for dignity and basic rights is not limited to any one region or country. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to preserve the memory of Tiananmen and to stand with all those still seeking to realize the dream of a Chinese government that respects the rule of law and upholds fundamental freedoms."