Chinese human-rights activists featured in documentarian Ben Klein's "The Exiles" respond to the Anthem Film Festival audience at FreedomFest

The Anthem Film Fest, held concomitant to FreedomFest last July, screened the documentary "The Exiles." In it, documentarian Christine Choy tracks down three exiled dissidents from the Tiananmen Square massacre, in order to find closure on an abandoned film she began shooting in 1989.  

Mr. Fengsuo Zhou, Chinese democracy and human-rights activist, was joined by Mrs. Li Schoolland and filmmaker Mr. Ben Klein to discuss the documentary 

In a post-screening panel joined by The Exiles' documentarian Ben Klein, exiled Chinese human-rights activists Mr. Fengsuo Zhou and Mrs. Li Zhao Schoolland shared experiences and insights from the Chinese democracy movement leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

They discussed the importance of recognizing individual identity within the Chinese community, the connection between the 1989 protests and current resistance in China, and their efforts to support political prisoners. Mr. Zhou also shared stories of dissidents who have been separated from their loved ones for decades due to their activism. The speakers emphasized the need for financial support and media awareness to help political prisoners survive and potentially secure their early release.

They also discussed the Chinese military's strict control over information leading up to the massacre and China's influence on the current administration in the United States. They addressed the tense relationship between China and the United States, with Zhou expressing concerns about China's impact on American policy and society. Overall, the speakers highlighted the importance of international support in the fight for freedom and democracy in China.

• 00:00:00 In this section of the video titled "The (CCP) Exiles" at Anthem Film FreedomFest '23, Fengsuo Zhou and Mrs. Li Schoolland share their experiences during the Chinese democracy movement leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Fengsuo Zhou, formerly a student leader, recounts watching his classmates die on the streets and being surprised to find himself on the Chinese government's most wanted list. He felt proud of his new identity as the voice of the movement and was the first to arrive and last to leave Tiananmen Square during this historic time. The courage and dignity displayed by the Chinese people during this period shocked the world, and voices were heard for the first time from their own hearts.
  
  
• 00:05:00 In this section they discuss the importance of recognizing individual identity within the Chinese community despite widespread indoctrination. Zhou shares his experience of the US government's complicity in the Tiananmen Square massacre, as former President Bush sent a special envoy to comfort the Chinese government leader, D, acknowledging guilt and collusion. This year, the Biden administration sent a high-ranking official to Beijing on the anniversary without mentioning human rights, normalizing the massacre. Zhou condemned this and was censored in both Chinese and English media, but Reuters reported on his comments. The documentary also highlights a message of hope, as one of the main characters, the founder of a famous Chinese private company, started a protest on Suon Bridge last year, which lasted only 30 minutes but was broadcasted worldwide, demonstrating the power of individual action.
  
  

  

  Filmmaker Ben Klein, human rights activists Li Schoolland, and Fengsuo Zhou

  
  
• 00:10:00 In this section they discuss the connection between the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and current resistance in China. Zhou shares his surprise that the Su on Bridge, a symbol of the protests, still exists and recounts the heroic protest of an individual student during the event. He also mentions the inspiration young protesters draw from the past, with many calling themselves "my duty groups." Zhou then shares the story of an unnamed woman who climbed a tower in Beijing on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, holding an American flag and distributing flyers advocating for China to be a country where people want to stay. Despite the risks, there is growing resistance in China, and organizations like the one Zhou works for have been providing support to political prisoners for decades. The speakers express the privilege and inspiration they find in working with these courageous individuals.

• 00:15:00 In this section they shares stories of dissidents, including War Ki and Li, who have not seen their loved ones for decades due to their commitment to fighting for freedom and democracy in China. War Ki's last encounter with his father was the day before the June 4th Massacre, when the Chinese government forced his father to beg him to give up his fight. Both War Ki and Li, along with many other freedom fighters, have paid a high price for their activism and have not seen their loved ones for 30-36 years. Fengsuo Zhou, the Executive Director of Human Rights in China, which was founded in 1989 to promote human rights in China, also mentions his other organization, Humanitarian China, which supports political prisoners in China by providing them with financial assistance and raising awareness of their situations.
  
  
• 00:20:00 In this section, Fengsuo Zhou discusses his humanitarian work in supporting political prisoners in China. He mentions his involvement in the Tiananmen Museum in Manhattan, which showcases items with personal stories, and invites visitors for a tour. Additionally, he introduces Liberty Liberty Sculpture Park in Southern California, where the first and only CCP virus sculpture was erected, which was later burned down in a direct attack by the CCP. Zhou emphasizes the need for financial support for these projects and explains that political prisoners in China are subjected to torture and lack basic necessities, so contributions help provide them with essentials.
  
  
• 00:25:00 In this section filmmaker Ben Klein and the activists discuss their efforts to support political prisoners in China. Zhou shares his personal experience as a political prisoner and the challenges faced by families of prisoners, including job loss and inability to send children to school. He emphasizes the importance of both media awareness and financial assistance to help prisoners survive and potentially secure their early release. The group also shares stories of soldiers who refused to go against students during the Tiananmen Square protests, with one famous general refusing to carry out orders and facing consequences as a result.
  
  
• 00:30:00 In this section they discuss the Chinese military's strict control over information leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Li, a journalist, was beaten and outstretched her badge to identify herself to soldiers, but she preferred to die than be identified as a dissident. The military had been isolated from news and propaganda for a month before being ordered to confront students at the square. Soldiers were told the students were anti-communist and damaging China, and they were forbidden from watching TV, listening to radio, or reading anything but the military newspaper. American entrepreneurs have been reluctant to financially support dissidents due to fear of endangering business opportunities, especially in industries like the NBA, Nike, and Hollywood, which heavily rely on the Chinese market. Despite this, Zhou believes more help is needed from the American business community to support dissidents.
  
  
• 00:35:00 In this section they discuss the influence of China on the current administration in the United States. Zhou points out that the presence of the National Guard around the capital for months, reminiscent of Chinese-style control, raises concerns about China's impact. He believes China's authoritarian model, which prioritizes control over individual freedom, has appeal to many people around the world. The COVID-19 policies of the Trump Administration were also influenced by China's approach, according to Zhou. He emphasizes the need to change the US policy towards China, with bipartisan support, and mentions the newly formed CCP committee in the US Congress as a positive step. Zhou also questions what the American policy should be towards China, suggesting peaceful coexistence while addressing human rights abuses and avoiding collusion through investments.
  
  
• 00:40:00 In this section they discuss the tense relationship between China and the United States. Zhou explains that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views the United States as a top enemy and openly educates children to hate the US. He shares personal experiences of being beaten by CCP supporters while American authorities looked on. The CCP's influence extends to the Chinese community in the US, with police stations reportedly being used to intimidate Chinese citizens. The protesters were initially mobilized during the collapse of communism globally in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their goal being to form a national solidarity against the CCP. Despite the challenges, Zhou applauds the FBI for recent efforts to address these issues.
  
  
• 00:45:00 In this section, dissidents Fengsuo Zhou, Li Schoolland, and Ben Klein discuss the global context of the student movement in China, inspired by the Solidarity Union in Poland. Zhou shares his belief that the communist regime is against human nature and highlights the importance of international organizations in bringing change. He mentions the significant number of VPN users in China, who follow messages from the free world and represent a free channel, leading to protests. Zhou emphasizes that the fight for freedom is not just for the Chinese people but for everyone, as China poses a significant threat to the human race. The speakers expressed their appreciation to the audience for their support in the fight for freedom.