June 4 killings remembered in Sydney

Activists gathered outside the Chinese Consulate in Camperdown, Sydney this morning. Our right to freedom of expression was challenged but we remained nonetheless.
We held one minute's silence in remembrance of those affected by the recent Sichuan earthquake and we laid red and white roses to commemorate the lives lost in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

Despite having detailed local council and local NSW Police permission to conduct our peaceful commemoration, the Australian Federal Police did attempt to move us on. It is disappointing to see the right to peaceful demonstration challenged anywhere in the world and it was unexpected here in Sydney. Our activists laid the roses in the shape of Amnesty's candle, heard words of hope and remembrance from Chin Jin, president of the Federation for Democratic China.

Amnesty International activists remembering China's Tiananmen Square crackdown in which hundreds of people lost their lives.

We will be gathering in Martin Place at lunchtime to lay more roses and show solidarity with the Tiananmen Mothers who are unable to conduct similar peaceful demonstrations in China.

We look forward to our peaceful right to freedom of expression being upheld by authorities all across Australia on this important day of remembrance, and in all future peaceful demonstrations.